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 for 12 months (usually 40% new oak, 40% in “Premier vin” casks and 20% in “Deuxième vin” casks) and racked every three months. 35% new oak was used for the 2019 vintage (medium toast). The wine undergoes absolutely no filtration. Egg white fining.
With temperatures above seasonal averages, the Winter was mild and unusually dry. Under these conditions, the Bud Break was particularly early, from March 20th. The coolness and rainfall in the Spring slowed down the development of the vine, and adjusted back to its average period of flowering between the end of May and the beginning of June. The unstable Spring weather, caused slight coulure on the Cabernet, around mid-June. The heat and the sun then settled in for the duration. A little rain in mid-July and early August favoured a rapid and homogeneous véraison from the 9th to 14th August.
Slow ripening, with dry, very sunny conditions and cool nights allowed the harvest to start on September 16th in a very healthy vineyard. Weather instability returned at the end of September and lasted until the end of the harvest on October 8th, without impacting on the quality of our grapes.
Hints of liquorice and golden tobacco on the nose, before opening up to both fruity (redcurrant, blackberry) and foral (iris) notes. Thee palate is smooth and syrupy, reminiscent of raspberry jelly. Well-balanced with a savoury fnish revealing slightly grainy tannins, which gives the wine energy and great length, precision and sweetness.
Lamb, red meats, cheese, truffle, chocolate.
Serve at room temperature
Jane Anson (93 points)
Owned by Pichon Comtesse, this is a lovely St Estèphe with polish and poise. Good depth to the berry fruits, with an appealing unfussy confidence. New cellars this year that allows for more precise reflection of the plots in 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Drink 2024-2040
Wine Advocate (92 – 94 points)
Lovely freshness, finishing long and perfumed. Bravo!
Antonio Galloni (90 – 92 points)
Succulent St Estèphe that will drink well out of the gate
Neal Martin (90 – 92 points)
AOC Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux
56% Cabernet Sauvignon
42% Merlot
1% Petit Verdot
1% Cabernet Franc
Natural Cork
14%
Yes
No
