Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve: Distinctive nose with a hint of leather and characteristic smokiness; full body and generous texture; splendid substance; great length. Simply superb! 17.5

Michael Schuster: Ripe fruit and toasty new oak to smell; elegantly balanced, aromatically concentrated, medium-full wine with a particularly refined tannin; a rich, tenacious palate, very gravelly behind the sweet, ripe fruit, and very long to finish. An impressively stylish Pape Clément, with a clear change in style to something less extracted and massive—as manager Patrice Hateau commented: “plus de finesse, moins de force.” Lovely! 2020–35+. 17/17.5+