2015 Château de Pez

Quite a bit of menthol cabernet sauvignon character on the nose, then a rather sleek, fresh palate with moderate tannins make this a rather easy St.-Estephe to enjoy. Some nice savory character on the clean finish. Drink now or in 2019 or 2020. (02/2018)

From a vineyard just next to Calon Segur, the 2015 Château De Pez a blend of 51% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Franc all raised in 30% new oak. This medium to full-bodied, impressively concentrated 2015 offers classic dark fruits, tobacco leaf, damp earth and hints of violets. With ripe tannin, a solid mid-palate and a good finish. It’s an incredibly successful Saint-Estèphe in 2015 that’s going to keep for 15-20 years. (11/2017)

A pure but modestly intense core of red and black currant fruit is threaded with light lilac and wet stone accents. Shows a flash of iron on the finish, with the fruit giving way. Best from 2019 through 2027.

- J.M.

The 2015 Château de Pez is a blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 51% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, matured in one-third new oak, the rest in one- and two-year-old barrels. It has a bold and generous nose of kirsch and blueberry, quite high-toned, but perhaps lacking some complexity underneath. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin. It is nicely balanced, gently grippy in the mouth with a harmonious finish, but what it lacks is the persistence on the finish that would have nailed it as a great wine. Drink this over the next 10-15 years.

- Neal Martin (04/2016)