Château Pape Clément
Bertrand de Goth, the Archbishop of Bordeaux in 1299, received the vineyards of La Mothe in Pessac and he managed the estateuntil 1305, when he was appointed Pope under the name of Clement V. It was then that he gave the estate to the Archbishop of Bordeaux, who continued to manage it for almost five centuries: its limited wine production was mainly reserved for the use of the archdiocese.
During the French Revolution, the estate became public domain, and a few successful owners followed: Jean-Baptiste Clerc, who acquired Château Pape Clément in 1858 expanded the vineyard to 37ha, and thanks to his bright management, the quality of the wines improved, placing them right behind the ones of Haut-Brion.
In the 1980s, Bernard Magrez, an entrepreneur passionate about wine, took over the Château and built an unprecedented international reputation for the Grand Cru Classé. Ever since then, Bernard Magrez has deployed every means possible to ensure that Château Pape Clément's exceptional terroir continues to flourish through time and to express the finesse that has made its wines so famous. 2009 was an exceptional year, Château Pape Clément's crowning glory, the year when it was awarded the legendary 100/100 score from the world-famous wine critic Robert Parker, writing a new page in the history of exceptional wines.
Other Bernard Magrez properties on Wine Paths:
Accommodation at Château Pape Clément
La Grande Maison Bernard Magrez
Restaurant Pierre Gagnaire La Grande Maison | 2 Michelin stars **
Château Pape Clément is one of the preferred wineries on the Michel Rolland Selection.
For the last forty years, my career has taken me to four continents and to more than two hundred and fifty different wine estates around the world. I have visited exceptional vineyards and tasted extraordinary wines everywhere I have been.
Now, I am delighted to have the opportunity to share my selection of wineries with you thanks to Wine Paths, an innovative project that I am extremely enthusiastic about, for the first time ever, we can find the best wine & dine addresses in the world featured in one place.
My selection includes some unique hidden gems as well as some renowned properties: I have chosen all of them based on the outstanding quality of their wines and services. Join me on this journey to discover the best wineries in the world’s most acclaimed wine regions.
Michel Rolland
International Winemaker
