Château Les Ormes de Pez, St Estèphe, 2020
The Lynch Bages team have transformed the fortunes of Ormes de Pez. Once a rather lightweight, gentle claret, Ormes de Pez has taken on the persona of its big brother. Very much a mini Lynch, offering inky, complex aromas or liquid minerals, crushed rocks, violets, dried flowers and taut black fruits. This is produced in a very modern style, possesses immense power and concentration; a very well endowed, but seamless and beautifully balanced St Estephe. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
critic reviews
The 2020 Ormes de Pez has a more open nose than its peers, leaning more toward red fruit as hints of potpourri and rosemary lend complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins. There's quite a lot of extraction noticeable in this Saint-Estèphe, as well as a grippy, saline finish. It will require cellaring for several years before it entertains drinkability. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Ormes de Pez features delicate scents of juicy red and black cherries, mulberries, and candied violets, leading to hints of cloves and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate is coated with lively black and red fruits, supported by lightly chewy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing on an earthy note.
No tasting notes available
Love this wine, with its punchy stamp of St Estèphe, with powerful black fruits and fresh acidities, both enticing and appealing while extremely unfussy. The tannins are serious and a little chunky, but have plenty of character and there is appealing gunsmoke and salinity on the finish. 3.69ph, 45% new oak.