Appellations

Ormes de Pez 2018

St Estephe, Cru bourgeois

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Tasting Notes

The 2018 Les Ormes de Pez was a perplexing wine from barrel, when I felt it was unnaturally hedonistic. Now in bottle, it does not dispense with what is still a comparatively exotic bouquet for a Saint-Estèphe in this vintage: brash red fruit, kirsch and cassis aromas. This is quite seductive but it just misses the DNA of the appellation. The palate is medium-bodied, fleshy and corpulent, with saturated tannins and a ripe, licorice-tinged finish. I maintain that this is an enjoyable Les Ormes de Pez, but it is still not my favorite in recent years.

Score: 89 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022 - 2036 Date: 23 August 2021

The 2018 Les Ormes de Pez is matured in 45% new oak, with 14.6% alcohol and an IPT of 84. Jean-Charles Cazes told me that this year there is more Merlot due to restructuring of the vineyard so that there is no almost 50% every year. It has a glossy, opulent bouquet with black cherries, kirsch and blueberry fruit, slightly confit in style and to be honest, just missing Saint Estèphe typicity. The palate is again, sweet and rich with layers of black fruit laced with black pepper and spices. This is a wine that coats the mouth, voluminious and powerful, a hedonistic Les Ormes that is enjoyable, but not my favourite vintage in recent years.

Score: 88 - 90 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2036 Date: 01 November 2019

Emerging from the team at Lynch-Bages, the 2018 Château Ormes De Pez checks in as 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all brought up in just 45% new French oak. Lots of perfumed blue fruits, leafy tobacco, cedar, and spring flowers emerge from the glass, and it has a rocking core of sweet fruit balanced by ripe tannins and nicely integrated acidity. This fresh, lively, perfumed Saint-Estèphe is going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 20-25+ in cold cellars.

Score: 92 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2024 - 2046 Date: 21 July 2021

The inky colored 2018 Château Ormes De Pez checks in as 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the balanced Petit Verdot that’s still aging in 45% new French oak. It offers lots of ripe black cherry and blackberry fruits intermixed with subtle violets and background oak. With building richness, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and remarkable purity of fruit, it’s another incredibly impressive Saint-Estephe that’s going to need 4-6 years of bottle age and be long-lived.

Score: 91 - 93 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 01 May 2019

A blend of 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, aged in 45% new barriques, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Ormes de Pez comes tearing out of the glass with rambunctious notes of stewed black cherries, crème de cassis and raspberry pie, plus hints of Indian spices, dried Provence herbs and potpourri with a waft of woodsmoke. The full-bodied palate is decadently spicy with bags of black fruit preserves and a velvety texture, finishing long with lovely freshness.

Score: 90 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2022 - 2037 Date: 16 July 2021

Composed of 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot and aging in 45% new barriques, the deep purple-black colored 2018 Ormes de Pez leaps from the glass with vibrant blackberries, black cherries and mulberries scents plus touches of garrigue, tree bark and bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied with bags of muscular fruit, it has a firm, grainy texture and great freshness, finishing on an herbal lift.

Score: 90 - 92 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 23 April 2019

41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot; 45% new oak. pH 3.57. Barrel sample. Deep, dark black-cherry colour. Rich aroma of small, concentrated black berries and some toasty oak. Quite dry on the palate, especially in conjunction with the thick if rounded tannins. Really chewy but the fruit does sneak out again at the very end – it is there but hidden at the moment. (JH) 14.6%

Score: 16+ Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2028-2038 Date: 23 April 2019

This has the luxurious kick of the Lynch Bages stable and is brilliant value for this level of quality. It seems to manage this every vintage and is just such a brilliant drinking wine. 2018 is another excellent year here, with deep fruitfulness of brambled hedgerow alongside liquorice and woodsmoke. It has a polyphenol index of 84IPT, so this is full of tannins but they don't feel overpowering. Tasted several times and always striking. 45% new oak. 3.57pH.

Score: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2024-2036 Date: 15 April 2019

This is very dense and lively with blueberry and blackberry character. Lots of purple fruit at the end. Full body and powerful tannins. Spicy undertones with hints of black tea.

Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 11 April 2019

The 2018 Ormes de Pez is dark, plush and enveloping. Smoke, cured meats, licorice, violet, crème de cassis and dried flowers give the 2018 striking nuance. Unctuous and intense in its ripeness, Ormes de Pez is decidedly opulent in 2018. The 14.6% alcohol is evident, and yet the wine shows terrific balance, as well as quite a bit of promise. The blend is 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Score: 89 - 91 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2019

Fresh and racy, with a stream of violet and cassis flavors that is tightly focused. Pure, offering a minerally echo. Textbook.

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2019