2018 Chateau Pape Clement Pessac-Leognan 750 ml

At almost 800 years young, Bordeaux’s oldest Grand Cru Classé never goes out of style. Every vintage of Château Pape Clément that we’ve offered, including the 2018, has earned perfect five-star ratings from our members.

It’s no wonder: Since taking over the estate, proprietor Bernard Magrez has never once sacrificed quality for quantity. His wines are among the most expressive, age-worthy, and flat-out delicious vintages currently being produced in Bordeaux, which is why Jeb Dunnuck rated the 2018 Pape Clément ahead of icons like Haut-Brion ($840+), Cheval Blanc ($1000), Lafite-Rothschild ($1200+), and Mouton-Rothschild ($850).

Made by Michel Rolland, the Right Bank-born genius who has earned countless 100-point scores while revolutionizing Bordeaux winemaking, the '18 continues Pape Clément’s tradition of opulence married to sumptuous tannins and mesmerizing complexity.

The second we poured a glass, we knew to clear our schedules for the rest of the afternoon. On the palate, the traditional power of Pape Clément is present in spades, framed by velvety yet firm tannins. Hailing from a warm vintage, the wine is more approachable than usual right now, with plenty of bold, dark fruit to complement its regal minerality and exotic accents.

Not unlike the halls of the grand château that Magrez has filled with priceless antiques, the wines of Pape Clément are show-stopping evocations of the best of Bordeaux. The sandy, gravel-rich soils studded with limestone and clay throughout the 155-acre estate allow the vines to sink their roots deep, absorbing all the character and intensity of this prized real estate.

The 2018 is a standout, and with our unrivaled perfect provenance guarantee, no lover of Bordeaux—or Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for that matter—should be without this ultra-collectible Pape Clément.