CHATEAU DE PEZ 2018

Created in the 15^th century, Château de Pez is the oldest domain in Saint-Estèphe. The Pontac family, who also created Haut-Brion, gave Pez its vineyards. The domain was sold as a property of the state after the French Revolution and was owned by a succession of families before Champagne Louis Roederer purchased it in 1995.

Vineyard

Château de Pez estate covers 48 hectares, with 70 plots surrounding the Château, allowing for a ‘parcellaire’ approach. The wines are left to ferment in traditional oak vats before being blended, and left to develop for a period of 12 months in oak barrels, 35 percent of them new.  There is now a new vat room, with conical stainless steel vats, which allow for a softer extraction of tannins.

Vintage

There are vintages which stand the test of time and remain true references for our properties. At Pez, without a doubt, 2018 will be one of them in more ways than one!  A vintage of all extremes, bringing together several vintages into one, 2018 delights us, enriches our experience and maintains our passion for winemaking, a vector of emotions.

After a very wet and cold winter, the bud break was late, around mid-April. The relative mildness from April to June allowed a flowering at the end of May. The many storms that hit this period encouraged unprecedented mildew pressure. The vineyard of Pez experienced little coulure and fortunately escaped the hail. A hot and dry climate settled in from mid-July, causing a heterogeneous veraison. It began on July, 29 for the Merlot and ended on August 17 for Cabernets and Petit Verdots. Stretching from September 18 to October 9, the harvest allowed each plot to be harvested at full maturity under excellent sanitary conditions.

Winemakers Highlights

Château de Pez remains resolutely faithful to wood. The blend is composed in December, and the wine is stored in barrels (40% new wood, 40% in “Premier vin” casks and 20% in “Deuxième vin” casks) and racked every three months. It is to be noted that the wine undergoes absolutely no filtration.

Food Pairing

Lamb, red meats, cheese, truffle, chocolate.

Food Pairing - serve at room temperature

Press

Wine Spectator

92 POINTS, SMART BUYS

March 31, 2021, James Molesworth

“Fresh red currant and bitter cherry notes are laced with floral and chalk notes. Piercing in feel through the finish, with the fruit and minerality in lockstep as a touch of cedar appears, leaving a mouthwatering edge. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032.”

Vinous Media

92 POINTS

March 2021, Neal Martin

“The 2018 Château de Pez was shut when I tasted it from cask with winemaker Nicolas Glumineau, so much so that I felt it was inappropriate to score it because I felt there was a great wine lurking behind that door. And so it turned out. Now in bottle, this has a gorgeous bouquet of lifted blackberry, graphite and flinty aromas, razor-sharp in terms of delineation. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine-grained tannins and a subtle marine influence that becomes more prominent with aeration. The oak is wonderfully integrated and the focus very finished. This is one of the best Château de Pez that I have tasted, but it clearly needed to wait until it was in bottle to show its potential.”

JamesSuckling.com

93 POINTS

January 8, 2021, James Suckling

“Classic aromas of black currant, tobacco and pencil lead here, with a touch of peppercorn spice. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, finely integrated tannins. Precise and structured with fantastic minerality. Better from 2025.”