Château de Pez 2017

Tasting notes and serving tips for Château de Pez 2017

Tasting

Color
The color reveals a deep garnet hue with violet and ruby highlights, reflecting fine concentration and still-youthful character.

Nose
The nose opens with spicy notes of black pepper, anise and clove, alongside aromas of ripe black fruits such as blackcurrant and blackberry. With aeration, the bouquet reveals nuances of milk chocolate, cedar and pencil lead, as well as floral touches of violet and subtle hints of mocha.

Palate
The attack is round and charming, unveiling flavors of ripe strawberry and cherry. The palate unfolds elegantly, carried by a silky texture and a pleasing suppleness. The tannins, clearly present, show a velvety and refined character. The finish, long and fresh, lingers on mineral and saline notes, accompanied by floral touches of violet.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats such as ribeye steak or lamb chops. It also goes beautifully with duck breast, braised meats in sauce, or a mushroom risotto. Aged hard cheeses such as Comté or Gruyère also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

Château de Pez 2017 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 16 to 18°C. One hour of aeration in a decanter, or opening the bottle 30 to 60 minutes before serving, will allow the wine to fully express its aromatic complexity. This wine can be cellared until around 2037 under proper cellar conditions.

An elegant, mineral Saint-Estèphe from a historic Bordeaux estate

The estate

Founded in 1452, Château de Pez is one of the oldest vineyards in Saint-Estèphe. Set on a single 42-hectare plateau, it combines gravel soils and a clay-limestone subsoil, with a Gironde microclimate conducive to optimal ripening. Owned by the Champagne House Louis Roederer (Rouzaud family) since 1995, the estate has been managed by Nicolas Glumineau since 2012. Parcel restructuring, a stainless-steel winery (2018), HVE certification and aging in French oak underpin a style that blends robustness with elegant approachability.

The vineyard

The Château de Pez vineyard covers around 48 hectares in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, in the northern Médoc. The plots, located on natural slopes rising to 17 meters, benefit from excellent drainage and optimal exposure. Proximity to the Gironde estuary provides a protective microclimate, particularly beneficial in the 2017 vintage. The average age of the vines is between 25 and 30 years.

The vintage

The 2017 vintage began with early budbreak at the end of March, followed by an exceptionally dry April marked by the risk of frost. Fortunately, Saint-Estèphe was spared thanks to the moderating influence of the estuary. Flowering took place at the end of May under excellent sanitary conditions. The summer, generally dry with a few episodes of intense heat, favored controlled vine growth. Veraison occurred at the end of July. Timely rains provided the necessary moisture without excess. Harvest began on September 12 and continued through early October, allowing optimal phenolic ripeness for the cabernet sauvignons.

Vinification and aging

Harvesting for Château de Pez 2017 was carried out by hand, allowing rigorous selection of the grapes. Vinification is performed plot by plot, combining traditional wooden vats and modern conical stainless-steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels and in tanks. Aging lasts between 12 and 15 months in French oak barrels, around 40% of which are new. The wine is racked every three months during this period. No filtration is carried out, preserving the wine’s aromatic integrity and natural structure.

Grape varieties

Cabernet sauvignon (47%)
Merlot (44%)
Cabernet franc (6%)
Petit verdot (3%).