TwoMoreGlasses.com® Chateau Pape Clement 2014 (1x75cl) – 7856206151878

Château Pape Clément is a grand cru wine estate in the Pessac-Léognan appellation in Graves. It is one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux, dating back to the 13th Century, and is now just 15 minutes from the center of Bordeaux city, and surrounded by urban development.

The Pape Clément vineyard is situated on a mix of gravel-sand and clay-limestone soils, with a chalky subsoil rich in iron. This is a good terroir for both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Of the 30 hectares of red grapes Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for about 60 percent, and Merlot around 40 percent. There are also tiny amounts of Petit Verdot and, Cabernet Franc.

There are 2.5ha (6.2 acres) planted to white grapes. This comprises around 45 percent each of Semillon, and Sauvignon Blanc, and 10 percent Muscadelle.

Château Pape Clément produces three pairs of red and white wines, including the grands vins. Le Clémentin du Pape Clément is the second label. Le Prélat de Pape Clément is not the third wine, but instead comes from a distinct 8.5ha (21-acre) plot.

The grand vin red features about 50 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, nearly as much Merlot, and a dash of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Its white counterpart is based on Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. It also contains about five percent Sauvignon Gris, plus a dash of Muscadelle.

Grapes undergo an initial sorting in the vineyard and are manually picked into small grapes. Red grapes are removed from the stems by hand to keep grapes intact as long as possible. They are fermented in large temperature controlled leather vats and then are aged in barrel. The grand vin sees 18 months in new French oak. The white grand vin is fermented in, then aged for 18 months in oak barrels.

The château takes its name from its founder, Betrand de Got, who was the Archbishop of Bordeaux and became Pope Clément V in 1305. It is currently part of the Bernard Magrez group of estates.