Chateau Pape Clement Blanc 2007

Stuart McCloskey, tasted 16 July 2026 “The colour has deepened to a luminous golden hue. The bouquet is wonderfully expressive and endlessly fascinating. Primary citrus and orchard fruits have evolved into layers of preserved, salted lemon, baked quince, and candied pineapple, intertwined with acacia honey, toasted hazelnuts, warm brioche and beeswax. As the wine slowly unfurls, delicate notes of chamomile, saffron, crushed seashells, lanolin and a gentle thread of smoky flint emerge,. The once-prominent oak has melted seamlessly into the wine, now contributing subtle nuances of vanilla pod and sweet spice rather than overt toast. These mature characteristics are consistent with how the wine has evolved since release.

The palate is gloriously textured. Time has softened every edge without diminishing the wine's remarkable energy. Waves of citrus oil, ripe stone fruit, honeycomb and roasted almonds glide effortlessly across the palate, supported by an almost glycerol richness that is beautifully counterbalanced by vibrant acidity. The finish lingers for well over a minute, leaving echoes of preserved citrus, warm pastry, wet limestone and delicate saline minerality that invite another sip long before the previous one has disappeared. This is mature white Bordeaux - complex, graceful and a great talking point.”