Grand Vin Pessac-Léognan 2005

Awarding this 99 points, Robert Parker said: “This majestic, multidimensional wine is one of the great, great wines of the vintage.” One of the oldest of Bordeaux’s Grands Crus, and under the watchful eye of Bernard Magrez Château Pape Clément is on a consistent run of form that is elevating this estate to superstardom.

Pape Clément is located only a couple of miles west of First Growth Haut-Brion, and in 2005 the Graves region enjoyed one of its most highly rated vintages ever, one that Jancis Robinson described as “textbook perfection”.

This is a wine not to be missed, opulent and luscious, it seems to contain lashings of black fruit, moist rolling tobacco, dried flowers, pencil shavings, chocolate-coated coffee beans and gentle notes of barbequed meatiness. A fine choice for roasted game, lamb or beef, but this wine is a privilege to drink with just about anything.