Château de Pez 2014

The 2014 de Pez has a backward, masculine, earthy, graphite-tinged bouquet that takes time to really unfurl and remains curmudgeonly in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin. There is good depth here, a little chewy in texture with a blocky, forthright finish that needs to muster more finesse. Not bad, but a “grumpy” Saint Estèphe at the moment. Like Les Ormes de Pez, it does not quite match up to its showing en primeur, at least at this early juncture, though tasted twice, a second bottle showed a little more spice and openness.

Fresh, with a pleasantly brisk edge to the cherry pit, damson plum and lilac notes. Reveals a bright iron thread on the finish. Pure, with a hint of dark tobacco that helps this flesh out with air. Best from 2018 through 2024.

One of the oldest properties in the Médoc, dating back to 1452, this Roederer-owned St-Estèphe estate is part of the same stable as Pichon Comtesse. Right now it's displaying a fairly hefty showing of oak, balanced out by concentrated black fruits to give both style and substance, and majoring on cloves and black pepper spice. It will need a little longer to come around than some.

This is ripe, rich yet mellow on the nose and the front palate. Then the St.-Estèphe tannins come through on the finish. Very well made. Supple and flavorful. Drink in 2020.

The 2014 de Pez is a powerful, dense, richly textured wine. Graphite, smoke, licorice, lavender and a host of dark-fleshed fruit notes abound. The 2014 offers striking depth, with more than enough structural underpinning to support a number of years of fine drinking. The blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. The 2014 is a gorgeous wine, and a sleeper of the year.

Truffle, earth, burnt wood and dark red fruits lead to a forward, easy-to-like wine filled with dark berries and wet earth that can be enjoyed in its youth.

Dark garnet, fairly dense at the core, ruby rim. Cool opening on the nose, josta berries, cassis, slightly woody, showing a hint of capsicine in the background. On the palate, an aromatic profile with a lovely black-peppery character and ripe tannins, beautiful length. This will offer excellent drinking pleasure in about 10 years. Could turn into a smart buy.

Silky, aromatic, deep bouquet, blue and black berries, tobacco, licorice, black pepper, noble woods, truffle. Balanced, dense, powerful palate with intense fruit, plenty of fine tannins, pronounced dark aromatics, muscular structure, long, full finish with very good aftertaste. 18/20 2022 - 2038

Enjoyable, black fruit, tannic grip; the fresh acidities mean this is not as supple as many in this line-up, but there is plenty of concentration to get stuck into here. Pencil lead and dark chocolate add appellation signature.

Open bouquet of black fruits and suave flowers, spicy notes, a dense palate, richly fruited, with beautiful substance, velvety tannins, persistent aromas, and plenty of vibrancy on the finish. Character and potential.

The nose shows beautiful notes of blackberry. The wine is broad, voluptuous, charming, not very long, but superb.

Deep garnet red. Very characterful, marked by classic notes of cedar, cigar boxes, and a pleasant touch of eucalyptus. On the palate, the wine stands out for its ability to combine density and finesse. The power is there, as is the vibrancy of the structure, allowing the wine to flourish beautifully. It has potential, but you can already start enjoying it.

Dark, intense, beautiful, and deep color. Fruity, delicate, pure, creamy, and smoky nose. Broad, juicy palate that develops powerfully, flavorful, with substance and wrapped tannins. Very good, sappy length. Blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot.

The wine has powerful tannins which are balanced with equally rich fruit. It is firm, in the Saint-Estèphe style, while never losing sight of a rich fruity future. The wine, from an estate at the heart of the Pez plateau, will develop well. Drink from 2024.