A sleeper of the vintage and the best Les Ormes de Pez made in decades, this opaque purple-hued 2009 offers up pure creme de cassis fruit intermixed with hints of charcoal, smoke, and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied and pure with good freshness as well as a soft, layered mouthfeel, it will offer delicious drinking over the next 10-15 years. (Tasted three times.) 88-90 points

a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, matured in 40% new oak, this ’09 Les Ormes de Pez has a deep, garnet colour. The nose is very pure, very focused, tightly would at first, a certain "strictness" to this Saint Estephe. Not as earthy as other wines, subtle aromas of black cherries, a touch of cassis, cedar and sandalwood. Good definition, but despite coaxing it is relatively closed at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, quite peppery on the entry, nicely balanced, masculine as usual, a saline note towards the finish that is quite