2023 Château Ormes de Pez, Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France
Regular price $48.00
Unit price per
55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Fresh red cherry, blackberry, cassis, violet, cedar, and subtle toasted spice. Medium-to-full bodied with concentrated fruit, fine tannins, and a long, structured finish.
Château Ormes de Pez is a historic Saint-Estèphe estate whose roots stretch back to the 18th century and which has belonged to the Cazes family since 1939. The Cazes family is also behind neighboring Château Lynch-Bages, one of the Médoc’s most recognized properties, bringing generations of Bordeaux experience to Ormes de Pez. The estate takes its name from the hamlet of Pez and from the elm trees, or ormes, that once surrounded the property. Its vineyards occupy approximately 40 hectares in northern Saint-Estèphe, one of the Médoc’s most structured and distinctive appellations. Gravelly parcels suit Cabernet Sauvignon particularly well because they drain quickly and retain warmth, while cooler sandy-clay soils provide ideal conditions for Merlot. The estate is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale Level 3 and harvests its grapes by hand. The 2023 growing season required careful vineyard work as alternating rain, heat, and water stress challenged the vines, but September rain helped the Cabernet varieties complete ripening. Interestingly, Merlot makes up the majority of this vintage, giving the typically structured Saint-Estèphe profile added roundness and generosity. Each parcel is vinified separately before the final blend is assembled. The wine then ages for 16 months in French oak barrels, 45% of which are new. The result combines Saint-Estèphe’s classic structure with vibrant fruit, polished tannins, and a little more immediate charm than the appellation’s reputation might suggest.
James Suckling: 92 Points
Aromas of dark plums, violets, frozen strawberries and dark cherries. Tightly wound and a little grainy, with a medium to full body and a long, tight, slightly chewy finish. 55% merlot, 34% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot.
Vinous: 92 Points
The 2023 Ormes de Pez is a rich, potent wine. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and chocolate fill out the layers. This virile, somber Saint-Estephe packs a pretty serious punch. There's a bit of burliness in the tannins, but then again, this is Saint-Estephe.
Wine Advocate: 91 Points
Approachable and open, the 2023 Ormes de Pez emerges from the glass with aromas of dark berries, flowers and licorice, discreetly accented by oak. Medium- to full-bodied, it is dense yet gently structured, offering good depth at the core and concluding with a long, mineral finish. Fresh and velvety, it offers immediate pleasure while retaining enough structure to evolve gracefully. This is a blend of 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.
Wine Spectator: 90 Points
A bird of a different feather, with atypically succulent (for St.-Estèphe) loganberry and boysenberry fruit infused liberally with mesquite, dried anise and black tea. Glossy overall, with just enough savory/chalk through the finish to keep this honest. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.