MAGNUMS
"92 Points - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Ormes de Pez slips sensuously from the glass with seductive blackberry pie, Black Forest cake and kirsch scents plus nuances of candied violets, hoisin, dark chocolate and licorice. Full-bodied, rich and plush in the mouth, it has a fantastic line of freshness lifting all the decadent fruit to a long, energy-sparked finish.2020-2039, March 2020
92/94 Points - Neal Martin, RobertParker.com
Tasted at Lynch-Bages and the UGC, the vineyard suffered some hail damage and some parcels lost as much as 30-40% of the crop and the yield which is 44hl/ha. The Les Ormes de Pez is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot raised in 45% new oak. It has a very sensual, very pure bouquet with dark cherries, boysenberry, wild hedgerow, mint and a touch of vanilla, much more feminine than the wines of the past. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins on the entry, very good ripeness here and the Cabernet Sauvignon is really in harmony with the ripe Merlot. Voluminous and silky smooth towards the finish, this is an outstanding Les Ormes de Pez. Drink 2015- Tasted March 2011."
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
