Pape Clement Blanc 2015

The 2015 Pape Clement Blanc is blended of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Sémillon and 10% Sauvignon Gris, fermented in 55% new and 45% one-year-old oak barrels. It aged for 16 months in barrels, with the entire time spent on the fine lees. It has quite a closed, reticent nose featuring ripe peaches, musk perfume and struck flint notes with a suggestion of lemon curd and honeycomb plus a touch of coriander seed. Medium-bodied with a crisp backbone, the intense citrus and stone fruit flavors trail off beautifully into a lingering honeyed finish.

The 2015 Pape-Clément Blanc has an attractive bouquet of crisp, well-defined Granny Smith apple, shucked oyster shell, Conference pear and light white peach aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The well-balanced palate possesses good depth and enough acidity to lend real tension and energy. It becomes more malic toward the finish, but there is always an underlying richness that imparts a fine peach skin finish. Excellent. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.