Château Tour de Pez 2022

Fruity and lively, this is clean and sleek with a wonderfully juicy core and high-toned red fruit that gives the palate bite and zing. Crushed stones and touches of sticky liquorice come in on the finish, adding nuance and character. Almost light in frame (and alcohol, compared with many), but delivers a really enjoyable glass with plenty of flavour, silky texture and long, cool finish.

A tight and minerally St.-Estephe showing dark olives, blackberries and licorice on the nose. Tight-grained and juicy on the palate, with a medium to full body and a flavorful, medium-long finish. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. This needs at least two more years to come around.

The 2022 Tour de Pez is a heady, boisterous Saint-Estèphe for the dinner table. Dark red-toned fruit, blood orange, leather and white pepper emerge with some coaxing. There’s terrific energy and drive here, both of which make this quite appealing. Attractive floral and savory notes from the Cabernet Sauvignon open the finish nicely.

With a floral edge to the perfume, the wine starts off fruity and creamy, with lift and sweetness in the mid-palate, but the finish leaves you with a minty, chalky edge. Drink from 2026–2038.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Slightly more open bouquet, hints of prunes, with redcurrants underneath. Fresh red cherry, lively acidity, mineral and citrus, a racy, animating food wine.

Inky dark purple core and hue. Pure and youthful with mild oak, crushed dark berries, plum, aniseed and sage. The palate is dense with high extract, yet good ripeness of tannin, fresh dark berry notes with a mild oak-derived spiciness and a long, pure finish.

Deep red color. Very aromatic nose with pure, creamy fruit. A palate defined by tactile finesse—precise and flavorful—with classy texture and lingering aromas. Medium power. Blend: 62% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol: 13.5% – pH: 3.63. IPT: 81.

62% Merlot, that’s a record! An interesting choice aimed at a juicy profile, very black-fruit-driven, supple and convivial. You almost want to bring it to the table right now. It strikes an appealing balance between drinkability and the tannic framework, well-defined without being dominant.

Medium-bodied, on the lighter side of St Estèphe in the 2022 vintage, with a juicy finish and ripe red fruits. This is a great, high-quality sector of St Estèphe, and they are delivering an excellent-quality wine, ready to drink. Allianz owners, as with Arnauld, Larose Trintaudon/Perganson in Haut-Médoc, Franck Bijon director, 26 hl/ha yield after hail, 50% new oak, gravel and clay-limestone soils. Hubert de Boüard consultant.