Andrew Jefford: Deep black-red. Earthy, ripe fruit and some sweet spice, but who would have thought that the usually exuberant Pape-Clement would emerge with this quiet and discreet aroma? That's the vintage for you. It is well-crafted, but it may underwhelm long-term followers of this property. On the palate, this is a generous wine for the vintage, with a core of ripe fruit and some soft tannins (much softer than Haut-Bailly; as soft though less ample than Smith Haut Lafitte); lovely purity and poise, and fine drinking qualities just now. But it just doesn’t have the dimensions, concentration, and drive to carry it through the years. Now to 2022. 89

Michael Schuster: Dense, oaky, fruit-abundant nose; rich, firm in tannin (both fruit and wood), long and sweet to taste, aromatic, savory, but oak-tannic at the same time (which you have to like), and with good length; satisfying, juicy, fruit-filled wine, lovely of its type. But you have to like the slightly oak-dried texture. That said, it is very good. 2022–32+. 92