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.
Château de Pez estate covers 48 hectares, with 70 plots surrounding the Château, allowing for a ‘parcellaire’ approach. The wines are left to ferment in traditional oak vats before being blended, and left to develop for a period of 12 months in oak barrels, 35 percent of them new. There is now a new vat room, with conical stainless steel vats, which allow for a softer extraction of tannins.
Château de Pez remains resolutely faithful to wood. The blend is composed in December, and 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. It is to be noted that the wine undergoes absolutely no filtration.
Nature and climate; temperamental as they are, remind the winemaker to remain humble and vigilant. Pez 2017 is the product of hard work to showcase the quintessence of an exceptional terroir, which has allowed us to escape the ravages of unpredictable bad weather. This is a vintage ending in 7 of which we are very proud.
Early again, bud break began at the end of March. A very dry April saw an episode of heavy frosts sparing the early ripening vineyards of Pauillac and St Estèphe, protected by the proximity of the estuary. Overall dry and sometimes hot, spring favored early flowering at the end of May under excellent sanitary conditions. Following this, the veraison quickly extended across the vines at the end of July. Some summer rains avoided the risk of water stress and favored maturation. A rainy period occurred during the harvest that began on September 12 between the Merlot and Cabernet harvests. The improvement that followed made it possible to wait for the maturity of the Cabernet until the beginning of October.
Complex and enticing, the nose of Château de Pez 2017 expresses notes of milk chocolate, and then evolves towards notes of red fruits, cedar, pencil lead and finally cinnamon. This complexity is present on the palate, with a clean and gourmet attack expressing notes of strawberry and cherry. The wine develops continuously with sweetness, silkiness and precision. A mineral and salty finish with floral notes (violet) which highlights the intensity of Pez 2017. Balanced, fruity and complex, Château de Pez 2017 stands out for its mineral tension and its finely engraved tannic structure.
Lamb, red meats, cheese, truffle, chocolate.
Serve at room temperature
Wine Enthusiast
94 POINTS
March 1, 2020, Roger Voss
“This wine is powerfully concentrated and rich. Bold black fruits dominate, bringing the tannins along with them. Drink the wine from 2024.”
AOC Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux
51% Cabernet Sauvignon
46% Merlot
1.5% Petit Verdot
1.5% Cabernet Franc
Natural Cork
13.1%
No
No
