Chateau Pape Clement, Pessac

Beautiful chateau named after its most famous owner, Pope Clement V

featured in Vineyards & estates Updated 1 September 2022

Located in Pessac, in the Graves subregion of the Bordeaux wine area, this large estate features stunning historical buildings and produces great wines.

The estate owes its name to Pope Clement V, owner of the chateau since 1299, when he was appointed bishop of Bordeaux and received Pessac vineyard as a gift. He managed the vineyard himself until 1309 when he has made pope, bequeathing it to the Church of Bordeaux. The estate was from then on progressively modernised, although the wine was reserved mainly for the use of the archdiocese.

After the French Revolution, the estate went in the public domain and was bought by Jean-Baptiste Clerc in 1858, who expanded the vineyard to 37 hectares and improved the quality of the wines. He built the current castle, which was redesigned later.

The current owner, Bernard Magrez, took over in the 1980s working to build its wine's reputation, an effort rewarded in 2009 when the Grand Cru Classé received a 100/100 score from Robert Parker.

The chateau produces exceptional red and white Grand Cru Classés made with hand-picked grapes, as well as other white and red wines.

Visitor comments

"This winery is so accessible from Bordeaux and we really had a lovely time here. The gardens are beautiful as is the building. We had a wonderful tour and our guide was generous with her information. The wine tasting afterwards was the icing on the cake. Brilliant." - Trip Advisor
"When it comes to wines, they have some of the best! The chateau is absolutely massive and built off of an old monestary, affording beautiful gardens and ancient trees as you look through the grounds. It is not a long tour but has some interesting historical features. If you get the opportunity to taste the wine, take it!" - Trip Advisor
"This was one of many wine tours for us, but the tour of the grounds and the history behind them made the tour worthwhile. The gardens, landscaping, vineyards, and glass house designed by Eiffel are all part of the incredibly long history behind the estate. The sommelier was very informative and engaging during the wine tasting. Highly recommend a visit." - Trip Advisor