Wine Words & Video Tape

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Château de Pez

031

Address: lieu-dit Pez, 33180 St Estèphe

Telephone: +33 (0)5 56 59 30 26

Good, solid and St Estèphe cru bourgeois now owned by Champagne Louis Roederer. The wines here are big and structured, though do remain rather tannic. 2009 does look promising here as does 2010.

Vineyard/Terroir: 24 hectares planted with 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.

Winemaking/Elévage: Traditional vinification with fifteen to eighteen month oak age in barrels of which up to 40% are new.

Tasting notes:

  • 2015 Deep; earthy looking; purple at edge; mineral and saline note; black cherry fruits behind; black cherry and plum; little pinched in the middle; has grip and acidity. Should settle OK. [51% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignin, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 30% new oak, 13.65% alc]. Drink 2022-2028. Tasted UGCB at Lafon-Rochet 5/4/16. 86-88
  • 2014 Deep and saturated; tighter on the nose than Ormes de Pez; black chocolate; some graphite; cool palate; elegant with marked freshness [acidity]; tannins a little tough; Reasonable length. See how this goes, tannins little hard seemingly. [56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot 13.55 alc.] Drink 2018-2027. Tasted UGC 2 April, 2015. 85-87.
  • 2013 Deep and saturated look; attractive red fruits; enticing; appealing palate – full, softish with a degree of generosity. Attractive wine and very good effort. Tasted UGC 1/4/14. 87-89 [later note] Deep and saturated in colour; tight to edge; creamy blackcurrant aromatics on the nose; good chew and sap on the palate – quite bright fruit. Elegant with some delicacy. Not forced. Quite impressive for the appellation and the vintage in 2013. [74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, alc 13%, 40% new oak]. Tasted UGC 3/4/14. 2018-2025. 86-88+
  • 2012 Deep and saturated colour; attractive blackcurrant fruit with a savoury edge; also a salty tang here too; full palate – easy, soft and attractive. Nicely done and continues a good run of form here at de Pez. Drink 2015-2025. 88+ UGC Oct ’14 [Earlier note] Mid depth; ripe blackcurrant and plum tones; good fruit here; attractive nose; quite seductive; sweet entry, ripe feel, lots of material. Chewy. Fades a tad but great effort from de Pez. Tasted UGC Thursday April 11, 2013. 87-89 [Earlier note] Pretty saturated look; thick; some oak on the nose but well integrated with [considerable] fruit; feels pretty fat on the nose; quite big palate; lots of fruit here; chew and density; pretty good effort – full of flavour and lots of fruit. 47% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Tasted UGC Tuesday April 9, 2013. 88-90. Drink 2018-2025
  • 2011 Mid depth; blackcurrant aromas, wet stones and earth; little less flesh on the bones than Lafon-Rochet; some angularity here [the vintage] but fruit not forced or dry. Drink 2016-2023. 86 UGC Oct ’13 [Earlier note] Deep and saturated in colour, looks dark/serious; some blackcurrant, less expressive than Lafon Rochet, Ormes de Pez and Phélan Ségur. Some cassis and blackcurrant notes; freshness and some purity; coffee at the back; nice attack, quite polished palate; black cherry and dark chocolate notes. Some dryness on the finish. Lacks roundness. Tasted UGC 3/4/13 and again 5/4/12 86-88 UGCB Primeurs Apr ‘12. Drink 2018-2025
  • 2010 Deep and saturated look; earthy, meaty maturing nose – very forward and already complex; chewy palate – pure and attractive with lots of depth. Excellent effort. Drink now – 2025. 89+ Vinexpo June ’13 [Earlier note] Deep core; glossy looking red; earthy, slightly salty note with some savoury, meaty characters; not unattractive; lots of material and structure and acid on the palate. This should age well and I like the style. Lots of chew and tannin but plenty of fruit. Grippy finish. Not that bad at all. Good value I’d imagine. 88 UGCB Nov ’12 [Earlier note] Deep core; glossy looking red; earthy, slightly salty note with some savoury, meaty characters; not unattractive; lots of material and structure and acid on the palate. This should age well and I like the style. Lots of chew and tannin but plenty of fruit. Grippy finish. Not that bad at all. Good value I’d imagine. 88 UGCB Nov ’12. [Earlier note] Very deep, saturated black red; legs; very plush nose; wonderful creamy ripe fruit; very full and attractive; very dense palate; quite big and thick; real warmth and grip; big. Maybe a fraction loose at the end. Warm. Big. 88+/100 [48% Merlot, 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, alc 13.55th April 2011 UGC. [2nd tasting UGCB] Deep and saturated, very ripe nose; attractive; deep and creamy ripeness here; strong blackcurrant here also; big dense palate; quite firm and very tannic; very solid feel; quite chewy and tannic. Strong and solid and should be good value. 88+/100 7th April 2011 UGCB. Drink now – 2025+
  • 2009 Deep and saturated look; ripe, some jam; chew and depth but tannins ripe and round at the end – very attractive effort again. Tannin [ripe] on the finish. Drink now – 2025. 89+ Vinexpo June ’13 [Earlier note] Mid red; meaty nose; attractive wine; minerals and earthy blackcurrants; very good; surprising finesse on the palate; really glossy satin quality to the fruit; very open and full; lots of flavour with grip at the end. This wine has loads of fruit. Best de Pez I’ve had. 89/100 UGC Oct ’11 [Earlier note] 2009 Mid black, vibrant at edge; fresh nose, mulberry, some plums; also minerals and graphite; this is good; well structured palate, mid weight with grip. Should settle down. 88+/100 Tasted 30th March 2010. Drink now – 2025+
  • 2006 Less depth than Ormes de Pez, lighter more lifted nose, leafy with maturity but high toned; quite round, less weighty palate; lot lighter and less intense; leafy and fresh but a bit short. Some acid and a slight hardness to the tanninc. Lacks a bit of stuffing. 84/100 MW Institute Nov ‘10 Drink now – 2020

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