1970 CHÂTEAU PAPE CLEMENT 1970

Information on the vintage 1970 red Bordeaux: A highly important vintage in many ways: its fine quality and its timing provided a jump start to the wine boom which was already hotting up during the 1967, 1968 and 1969 vintages.

(10-2016) The 1970 Pape Clement was...shocking...in terms of its precocity. This bottle was acquired in Bordeaux and the level was as good as you could expect given that it was 46 years old. Quite deep in color, the bouquet is just wonderful with smudged black fruit, warm gravel, clove and bay leaf. It exudes Graves-like aromas and conveys superb vigor. The palate shot well above my expectations: very well balanced and laden with black fruit. There is real weight and presence here, touches of sandalwood, clove and a subtle pine needle note emerging with time. It seems undiminished with age, a 1970 Graves that is doubtlessly overlooked by cognoscenti. Well, I am here to tell you that this is actually superior to the 1970 Haut Brion and ranks alongside the outstanding 1970 Domaine de Chevalier. Go seek.

(09-2007)