A spicy and juicy red with a tight center-palate, medium body, creamy tannins and a savory finish. Vivid and focused. Shows finesse.

The 2023 Ormes de Pez was picked from September 19. This was tasted two or three times. I must confess I was not taken by the bottle poured at Lynch Bages which felt high-toned and a bit blowsy. However the last bottle tasted at the UGC was far better: a more classically-hewn nose with tertiary notes of tar and graphite infusing the black fruit. Quintessential Saint-Estèphe. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and well balanced with gentle grip. The new oak (45%) is well integrated. Suffice it to say this is much more promising.

The 2023 Ormes de Pez is a powerful bold Saint-Estèphe. Black cherry gravel incense chocolate tobacco licorice and cured meat infuse the 2023 with tons of Saint-Estèphe personality. Burly and rustic in a good sense the 2023 has tons of character. The Merlots feel pretty ripe and exuberant in this sample.

Aromas of dark berries, cassis and creamy new oak introduce the 2023 Ormes de Pez, a medium-bodied, rich and creamy wine with a lively core of fruit and sweet structuring tannins. At 55%, Merlot dominates the blend.

55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Round and spicy with plenty of lift. Juicy fruit on the palate. Generous in style but with a structure not to be ignored. (JL)