Château Ormes de Pez 2012

A wine that is seamless and pretty with currant, berry and ultra-fine tannins. Medium to full body and a clean finish. Needs three to four years of age really to come together. Fleshy for the vintage. Lots of merlot here at 44%, though 46% is cabernet sauvignon, 8% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot.

The 2012 Les Ormes de Pez is flashy and seductive. Scents of sweet tobacco, mint, crushed flower, savory herbs, game, anise and leather meld into a core of dark-fleshed fruit. Drink this attractive, mid-weight Saint Estèphe over the next decade. This is a terrific effort from the Cazes family. The blend is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Showing a bit too much oak, coupled with the bright cranberry and cassis notes, that leaves you with a touch of dryness in the crisp finish.

Quite ripe nose, dark cherry, kirsch, vanilla and some new oak; dense fruit, rather modern style with a firm backbone, dark fruit and rather fine length.

A full-bodied, rich wine. The oak is exceptionally well-integrated, with lovely length and class.

93–95. Barrel sample. This powerful wine is dense with rich tannins and black fruits that are balanced. Full and concentrated, it's a wine with great potential.

This is a soft, consumer-friendly style of wine from Les Ormes de Pez from the Cazes family, who have done so much for the village of Pauillac and their own wines, such as Lynch-Bages. They have turned out a luscious, dark ruby/purple wine with sweet cassis fruit, an uncomplicated, medium-bodied mouthfeel and very velvety tannin. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.

Broad, with boysenberry, blackberry and bitter plum fruit, layered with firm-edged charcoal, leather, roasted cedar and chestnut notes. Muscular and dense, though lacking some refinement, with the finish sporting a chewy, woodsy edge. A bit old-school, and may not harmonize fully. Best from 2016 through 2022.

Dense purple-red and lots of cassis fruit, big fleshy ripeness and good grip for the future.

Brightening garnet color with medium density, fine rim. Slim, fresh bouquet with lots of red cherry, a floral backdrop, and a hint of grenadine from the sweetness. Juicy, elegant palate, very polished, with a firmer, more structured finish. May still improve, but likely won’t match its greatest vintages.

Lightening garnet with medium density, fine rim. Sleek, fresh bouquet with lots of red cherries, a floral backdrop, and a hint of grenadine suggested by its sweetness. Juicy, elegant palate, very polished, with a firmer, more structured finish. It may still improve, but it won’t catch up to its greatest vintages.

A light, silky, finely detailed bouquet with red and blue berries and vanilla. The palate is light and slightly austere, with powdery tannins, a gently sweet aromatic profile, a slender structure and a dry finish. 16/20 2017 - 2028

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Ormes de Pez bursts with open-knit black cherry compote and eucalyptus scents, followed by wafts of blackcurrant cordial, unsmoked cigar, and dusty soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is chock full of minty black fruits with savory accents and a chewy texture, finishing spicy. Mature now, it is time to drink up.

Good depth of color. Fruity, fresh nose. Juicy, supple palate with plenty of flavor, and a sappy tenderness on the finish. Very pleasant. Normal length.