Château Ormes de Pez

On 35 ha of prime Saint-Estèphe terroir, Domaines JM Cazes—which also owns Château Lynch-Bages—produces a wonderfully balanced Bordeaux. Nestled among illustrious neighbors such as Montrose, the two Ségurs, and Cos d’Estournel, this is a consistently excellent value wine that, in exceptional vintages like 2016, can soar to magnificent heights.The “elm trees of Pez,” which gave the château its name, may have been cut down long ago, but the wine’s quality endures.Its special charm also lies in the fact that, while the Ormes de Pez is a typical Saint-Estèphe wine—with solid tannic structure and enormous aging potential—it always comes across as very balanced and harmonious. This is due in no small part to its blend of 52% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, with the high proportion of Merlot providing the wine’s smooth, flattering character. 45% new barriques were used for 16 months to refine the wine. The grapes were harvested by hand, and for only the second time, an optical sorting machine was used.This red wine is incredibly full-bodied, elegant, and full of finesse. The black-fruit-driven nose reveals notes of cherry, dark berries, cassis, and a hint of licorice. On the palate, there are also plenty of dark berries, very good, velvety tannins, followed by an exceptionally long finish. Throughout, everything remains harmonious and perfectly balanced.Neal Martin awards it 92–94/100 points and suggests that it could be one of the best Ormes de Pez ever producedJames Suckling rates it 93–94/100 pointsGalloni: 92/100This Saint-Estèphe, which will age well at least until 2030, benefits from decanting for at least one to two hours.