Created in the 15th century, Château de Pez is the oldest domain in Saint-Estèphe. The Pontac family, who also created Haut-Brion, gave Pez its vineyards. The domain was sold as a property of the state after the French Revolution and was owned by a succession of families before Champagne Louis Roederer purchased it in 1995.
The Château de Pez estate covers more than 26 hectares. The wines are left to ferment in traditional oak vats before being blended, and left to develop for a period of 16 to 18 months in oak barrels, 40 percent of them new.
The Château de Pez winery remains resolutely faithful to wood. The blend is composed in December, then the wine is stored in barrels (40% new wood, 40% in “premier vin” casks and 20% in “deuxième vin” casks) and racked every three months. Vatting: 22-30 days. It is to be noted that the wine undergoes absolutely no filtration. The wines of Château de Pez have an attractive tannic structure worthy of further ageing. They are sometimes referred to as the ‘Pomerols’ of St-Estèphe, in part due to the smooth roundness brought to the wine by the Merlot vines grown on the exceptional soils. They tend to be dark in colour and have great length, body and distinction and are best appreciated after 5+ years.
The main climatic features of the 2010 vintage were low rainfall (around 50% less than the average for the growing seasons of the last thirty years) combined with quite cool temperatures, which kept the threat of vine canopy disease low.
Terrific texture and opulence, forward fruit, sweet tannin, and a lush personality are dense along with copious quantities of sweet berries, roasted coffee, underbrush, black currant, and black cherry fruit. Sensationally pure, textured, and full-bodied, this will be a flamboyant, showy offering in its youth, but it is capable of lasting 20-30 years.
Lamb, red meats, cheese, truffle, chocolate.
Serve at room temperature
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate – May 2011 – (90-92 pts)
Wine Spectator – April 2011 – (91-94 pts)
Jancis Robinson – April 2011 – 17/20
AOC Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux
52.5% Cabernet Sauvignon
47.5% Merlot
Natural Cork
13%
