2023 Château Ormes de Pez, St Estèphe, Bordeaux

55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Cask sample.

Round and spicy with plenty of lift. Juicy fruit on the palate. Generous in style but with a structure not to be ignored.

Drink 2030 - 2042

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Ormes de Pez rolls effortlessly out of the glass with notes of baked plums, boysenberry preserves, and kirsch plus nuances of wet pebbles and cedar. The medium-bodied palate is soft, with just enough fruit nicely balanced by soft tannins, finishing with a refreshing lift. The blend is 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.

Drink 2026 - 2033

Aromas of dark berries, cassis and creamy new oak introduce the 2023 Ormes de Pez, a medium-bodied, rich and creamy wine with a lively core of fruit and sweet structuring tannins. At 55%, Merlot dominates the blend.

Lots of smoky red and black fruits, leafy tobacco, minty herbs, and some crushed stone-like minerality all define the 2023 Château Ormes De Pez, a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated 2023 that has plenty of tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a beautiful, seriously good wine from this château that will need short-term bottle age to show at its best.

The 2023 Ormes de Pez is a powerful, bold Saint-Estèphe. Black cherry, gravel, incense, chocolate, tobacco, licorice and cured meat infuse the 2023 with tons of Saint-Estèphe personality. Burly and rustic, in a good sense, the 2023 has tons of character. The Merlots feel pretty ripe and exuberant in this sample.

Drink 2027 - 2038

The 2023 Ormes de Pez was picked from September 19. This was tasted two or three times. I must confess, I was not taken by the bottle poured at Lynch Bages, which felt high-toned and a bit blowsy. However, the last bottle tasted at the UGC was far better: a more classically-hewn nose with tertiary notes of tar and graphite infusing the black fruit. Quintessential Saint-Estèphe. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and well balanced with gentle grip. The new oak 45%) is well integrated. Suffice it to say, this is much more promising.

Drink 2028 - 2042

Plenty of Ormes de Pez sappy tannins and rich black fruit character, great quality, easy to recommend and should offer good value. No frost, and despite mildew pressure final yields of 51hl/h, 45% new oak, harvest September 14 through into October 4.

Drink 2027 - 2040

A spicy and juicy red with a tight center-palate, medium body, creamy tannins and a savory finish. Vivid and focused. Shows finesse.