Château Ormes de Pez - Saint-Estèphe 2020

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The elm trees are gone, but the hamlet of Pez is still home to this lovely estate, acquired by Jean-Michel Cazes. The winemaking process is overseen by the team at Château Lynch-Bages, lending the wine a touch of soul and, above all, a great deal of elegance. With more meticulous and precise winemaking than in the past, the wines have gained in refinement.

Decanter

About the wine:

Aromas of blueberry, raspberry, and blackcurrant, concentrated and juicy. The wine is dominated by Merlot (following a restructuring of the vineyard to better align the grapes with the terroir), with bite and freshness. With a lovely smoky note, this is another successful vintage for Ormes de Pez. 4% Petit Verdot rounds out the blend. 3.69 hl. 45% new oak. A yield of 42 hl/ha, which is not as low here as at Lynch Bages due to a clayier soil and because the Merlot was less affected by the drought than the Cabernet Sauvignon. 2024–2038

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

As always, this wine is beautifully crafted; the 2020 vintage is particularly fine, with truly superb vibrancy and beautifully defined fruit. Elegant yet intense, with refined tannins, it is already irresistible.

About the estate:

This charming estate owes its name to the beautiful elm trees that once graced its garden. Owned by the Cazes family (Lynch-Bages) since the 1930s, Ormes de Pez produces a wine that captivates wine lovers with its full-bodied, rich, and alluring bouquet. It is generally best enjoyed relatively young and has demonstrated consistent quality for over a decade, thanks to the work of a well-oiled team. A great value.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Owned by the Cazes family of Lynch-Bages in Pauillac, this wine is a high-quality wine that carries on the estate’s tradition. With its well-integrated tannins, which support the aromas of black plum skin, this wine has excellent medium-term aging potential.

James Suckling

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A lovely nose of freesias and lilies, with a hint of pepper reminiscent of a Pinot Noir; on the palate, it is exquisitely delicate and complex, with notes of blackberries, blackcurrants, and sandalwood, and a captivating finish. Best enjoyed between 2023 and 2053.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Over the past six years, the proportion of Merlot has increased, lending this already charming wine greater stability, roundness, and body. The expressive, fruity nose hints at a full-bodied, fresh, and easy-drinking palate, supported by lively, ripe tannins. The delicate, powdery, licorice-like flavor profile is already a pleasure to taste.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Ormes de Pez benefits from a clay-limestone terroir where Merlot thrives, as well as sandy-limestone soils that are well-suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine displays good density and features fine, perfectly integrated tannins. The limestone character of the terroir is evident through chalky nuances perceptible both on the nose and on the palate. A dense and powerful wine with a finish that is beautifully extended by its structure. An Ormes de Pez with character that deserves some aging. 2027–2045