Earthy and savory, this starts rich and mellow then slowly turns in the stern direction. A lot of personality and character, and power for long ageing. Try in 2020.
In my opinion, the Cazes family have been delivering one of the best value wines in Bordeaux over the past few years here. The 2014 was delicious en primeur and continues to be so. There's some serious tannic structure here, needing more time to open up and so will age well, but it's full of bounce already, and the fruit is vibrant. It's fairly rich in texture and concentration - touches of clay within the Garonne gravel soils give power to the fruit - with a juicy salinity on the finish. 2% Petit Verdot rounds out the blend. 30% of the production was lost to a hail storm on 19 May. Drinking Window 2019 - 2032.
Dark cherry, plum, smoke, tobacco and game notes emerge from the 2013 Ormes de Pez. Broad and ample on the palate within the context of the year, the 2013 stands out for its balance and sense of proportion. Savory herb and game notes add nuance on the finish. The 2013 is a bit rough around the edges, but quite pleasing just the same. Yields came in at 34 hectoliters per hectare as opposed to the more typical 50 or so. The blend is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
The wine has the firm tannins of the appellation, moderated by the black-currant fruitiness of the vintage. Spice and the dry structure will allow it to age well. With the same winemaking team as Château Lynch-Bages in Pauillac, it will age well. Drink from 2022
While the 2015 wasn’t presented, the 2014 Chateau Ormes de Pez from a bottle purchased locally showed beautifully. A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, is reveal a deep purple color as well as rich, concentrated notes of ripe black cherries, licorice, singed cedar, and tobacco. Concentrated, medium-bodied, incredibly pure and focused, with impressive balance, it’s certainly an outstanding wine that’s going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and shine for 15+. It’s a classic, well-made 2014 I’d happily drink.
Lively, with a mix of pomegranate, blood orange and bitter cherry notes, flecked with savory and backed by a pebbly finish. Features latent depth and should unwind with moderate cellaring. Best from 2019 through 2025.
