2021 de Pez (St-Estephe)

An elegant, seamless wine, the 2021 de Pez exhibits aromas of cassis, sweet berries and nicely integrated new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, lively palate that`s supple and fleshy, with good depth at the core and a nicely defined finish. It`s a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot crafted by Nicolas Glumineau and his team from Pichon Lalande. 90-92 points

The 2021 Chateau de Pez has a very pure bouquet with blackberry, briar and light loamy aromas. This has gained delineation since I tasted it from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh, with fine-grained tannins and a Pauillac-like seam of graphite from start to finish, leading to a precise close that is very pleasing. This shows melioration in recent months and it will give a couple of decades’ drinking pleasure. 91 points

The 2021 de Pez is a potent, dense rich wine that continues a move towards a more serious style here. Whether that works over the long term is, in my view, an open question. There is plenty of intensity in the dark fruit, spice, leather and gravel flavors, but the style feels a bit forced to me. The 2021 is projected to spend 19 months in oak, 50% new. The en primeur samples were shown from new oak barrels only, so it will be interesting to see how things ultimately shape up. Time will tell. 89-91 points

Turmeric and sage spice, plenty of structure to cradle the bright, juice-filled raspberry, cassis, and blackberry fruits. This is a lovely wine. No chaptilisation. 92 points