This is a small snapshot of four wines from St Estèphe. I did look more comprehensively at the appellation in 2019 during primeurs and you can read the report here. Château Lafon Rochet continues to develop well. It was fabulous from cask and remains a seriously impressive wine, one of the best of the last decade.  Château Phélan Ségur is polished and balanced, with creamy aromatics and plenty of extract but it remains nicely polished. Château Ormes de Pez felt a little closed at the tasting, but offered up plenty of chunky fruit on the palate. Château de Pez felt a little angular and pinched on the finish, but I expect this will come good with some time in bottle. The following wines were tasted in November 2021 at the UGCB even in London.

Château Lafon Rochet, St Estèphe, 2019

Deep and saturated; deep at centre; earthy purple at edge; stalky cabernet; nice and fresh;  similar fruit profile on the palate with savoury aspect; nice balance; plenty of fruit with balancing freshness. Really good Lafon Rochet. Remains as impressive as it was in barrel. [65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc]. Drink 2026-2045. 94

Château Ormes de Pez, St Estèphe, 2019

Deep at core; little dumb at first on the nose; blackcurrant tones emerged alongside black cherry fruit; savoury notes too; palate is chunky and the tannin is a bit on the angular side which gives the impression of some hardness. So it will always have some bite, but plenty of fruit here in this typically gutsy St Estèphe. [50% merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot]. Drink 2027-2040. 89+

Château de Pez, St Estèphe, 2019

Mid depth; fresh and schist; some briary fruit; little pinched on the palate but has fruit and freshness; some texture to the tannins but a little angular on the finish. [56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot]. Drink 2027-2035. 88

Château Phélan Ségur, St Estèphe, 2019

Deep at centre; legs; creamy aromatics; black and red fruits; plenty of extract and matter on the palate; inky and saturated; needs time. [56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot]. Drink 2029-2040. 90