CHÂTEAU LES ORMES DE PEZ

The 2020 Ormes de Pez is a pretty wine, even if it feels a bit light. Dried herbs, tobacco, mint, dried flowers and earthy tones lend aromatic nuance to this attractive, mid-weight Saint-Estèphe. It would be nice to see a bit more depth. Perhaps that will come with élevage. Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 88-90 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jun 2021)

The 2020 Ormes de Pez, which has gradually moved to a more Merlot-dominated blend over the last decade, is aged for 16 months in 45% new oak. It has a nicely detailed bouquet of a mélange of red and black fruit – cranberry, blackberry and a touch of blueberry – accompanied by cedar and subtle wild mint aromas; it is actually quite Pauillac-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins and chewy in the mouth, quite compact at first. A strong saline, almost briny element comes through toward the finish, which is more quintessential Saint-Estèphe. This is a more backward and less finessed wine compared to the Cazes family’s Lynch-Bages or Haut-Batailley, but there is commendable length and character, not to mention a very attractive openness, to this wine. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)

Lots of plums, blackcurrants, tobacco, and loamy soil notes make up the bouquet of the 2020 Château Ormes De Pez, and it’s medium-bodied, with some chocolaty background oak, good purity of fruit, and ripe tannins. I don’t see any reason this shouldn’t easily be an outstanding Saint-Estèphe and drink well for 15-20 years. Rating: 90-92 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2021)

A firm, lightly chewy red with blackberry, blueberry, spice and some chocolate. Medium body and fine tannins. It grows on the palate. Tannins sneak up at the end. 54% merlot, the highest percentage ever, the rest cabernet sauvignon with a touch of petit verdot. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2021)

Blueberry, raspberry and cassis, there is concentration but also juice. Merlot-dominant (following a restructuring of the vineyard to better align grapes with terroir) with bite and freshness. A lovely smoky edge here, this is another successful vintage for Ormes de Pez. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.69ph. 45% new oak. A yield of 42hl/ha which was not as low here as at Lynch Bages because of more clay in the soils, and because the Merlot was less impacted by the drought than the Cabernet Sauvignon. Drinking range: 2024 - 2038 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)

54% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Merlot harvest began on 15 September, nine days earlier than in 2019, and continued until 20 September. The Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot were harvested on 21 and 22 September, respectively. Cabernet Sauvignon was picked from 20 to 28 September. 16 months' ageing in barriques (45% new) envisaged. Dark crimson, but much paler than the Pauillacs from this Cazes stable. Aromatic and medium concentration of fruit with some stoniness on the palate. Marked tannins and acidity but nothing excessive. Classic St-Estèphe. Cool fruit and freshness. Very dry finish. I should imagine that this will be far from the most opulent wine of the appellation but it's very sincere and correct and I like the menthol-fresh finish. 13.2% Drinking range: 2029 - 2047 Rating: 16.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)