MAGNUMS
"Neal Martin 91/100
The 2009 Les Ormes de Pez has a strange nose at first, a little distant and missing the same fruit intensity as its peers. There is a slight dustiness here that translates over the palate. Good fruit concentration and grip, just a touch of greenness around the edges with a welcome dash of spice towards the finish. Thoroughly enjoyable if just missing some finesse. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. 2021 - 2038 vinous.com, March 2019
54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot."
Jean-Charles Cazes (proprietor of Ch Lynch-Bages) purchased Ormes de Pez from his sister Marie Cazes, who in around 1880 had married Jean Guillou, the Ormes de Pez Cellar Master. Sadly Jean Guillou was killed early on during WW1 and Marie had run the property with great fortitude until the sale to her brother in 1940. Jean-Michel Cazes (son of Jean-Charles) redeveloped and modernised the traditional XVIII century buildings in the early 80's, and a further renovation has been undertaken in more recent years.
Some very old 'ormes' (elm trees), which no longer exist, account for the name of this property, whose history can be traced back to the 18th century. The 35-hectare vineyard is located around the hamlet of Pez and is divided into two main plots, in the centre and north of the commune of Saint-Estèphe. Ormes de Pez has very homogeneous soil (a clay gravel mixture typical of Saint-Estèphe) and many of the vines are quite old. The grapes are hand-picked. After selecting the vats and blending the wine is aged in oak barrels for 15 months. Designated a crus bourgeois exceptionnel in the 2003 classification, Château Ormes de Pez has a new label illustrating both the estate's renaissance and the elegance of its wine. ©ugcb
