Pape Clement 2009 (750ML)

96 Points, Zachys Buying Team: "Our Easter wine was the perfect pairing for roasted lamb. With its 10-year birthday, this is an absolute crowd pleaser for today. It's a style that can win over the Napa enthusiasts and satisfy the Old World Claret collector. One can see why critics like Parker and Lisa Perrotti-Brown have recently rerated this with perfection and near-perfection. The wine immediately screams from the decanter, and the intoxicating nose grabs you by the hairs and pulls you in. This is a modern minded Bordeaux with instant gratification appeal that can transition Napa enthusiasts over to Bordeaux while satisfying the Rolland neyser. Expect nuances of blackberries, black cherries, cassis, plums, coffee, and leather. But there is more here, there is acidity and stony minerality that gives some lift to support the creamy, tongue staining fruit. Decant four hours and this is a wine to enjoy today. It is a wine that challenges many top growths at a fraction of the price."

99 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Pape Clement struts flamboyantly out of the glass, featuring beautifully opulent preserved black fruits, Morello cherries and Chinese five spice with underlying notions of truffles, iron ore and tobacco plus a waft of sandalwood. Full-bodied, the voluptuous fruit has a firm foundation of super ripe, grainy tannins and bags of freshness supporting layer upon layer of black fruit, exotic spices and earth-laced flavors, finishing very long." 03/19

98 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "Wonderful aromas of plums and blueberries and flowers. Full-bodied with plums, stones, hazelnuts and milk chocolate, and a long, long finish. Marvelous. Best ever." 08/12

96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com: "Continuing to drink beautifully (my last bottle was a handful of years ago), the 2009 Château Pape Clément offers mature notes of blackcurrants, chocolate, cedar pencil, and loamy earth. It shows the ripe, sexy style of the vintage, yet most of its baby fat has melted away and it's showing a beautiful sense of elegance as well as classic Graves smoky, tobacco, and earthy aromas and flavors. Enjoy this beautiful, elegant wine any time over the coming 25+ years. (Drink between 2020-2048)" 11/20