Château de Pez 2nd Pez
Saint-Estéphe, France
Vintage:2020 (Current)
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Reviews
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
“This wine is dense, juicy with bold black fruits and ripe tannins. The concentration does not mask the forward nature of the bright black currant fruits. Drink from 2025.”
JamesSuckling.com 92 Points
“Attractive chocolate and walnut with some iron. Currant and dried fruits. It’s medium-bodied with juicy fruit and a spicy, savory finish. Drink or hold.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points
“The second wine of Château de Pez can represent a great value in the market, and it's always well-made and certainly a delicious wine. The 2020 2nd Pez is based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot and has a medium to full-bodied, round, balanced, elegant style as well as plenty of darker currant and plummy fruits, some tobacco and damp earth, sweet tannins, and a good finish. Drink this outstanding 2020 over the coming decade.”
Vinous Media 90 Points
“The 2020 2nd de Pez is a powerful, deep, savory wine. Effusive and forward, with tons of Saint-Estèphe character, the 2nd is a hearty bistro wine to drink over the next handful of year. This is very good for what it is.”
Decanter 92 Points
“Herbs, aniseed and liquorice combined with red and black fruits. Generous, friendly, juicy, supple, but nicely textured and with a lovely balance. Creamy, chalky and also austere, with bright red fruits, acidity and a texture which lingers on the tongue. It’s not plush or mouthfilling, but it is pronounced and gives the gentle definition to the palate. There’s a nice ease to this while still putting you in St-Estèphe. Nothing complex or harsh - such easy drinking. You have the tannins, you have the grip, but it’s gentle, chalky, calm and comfortable. A great value wine. Aged for 12 months, one-third new oak.”
Overview
Founded in the 15th century, Château de Pez is one of the oldest properties in Bordeaux’s Left Bank and the oldest domaine in Saint-Estèphe. Château de Pez consists of 104 continuous acres with 94 acres planted mainly to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Since 2005, Pez has been on an exciting intellectual and technical journey of precision winemaking: experimenting with biodynamic viticulture, a new cellar allowing for plot-by-plot vinification, a meticulous selection of French oak barrels. Under winemaker Nicolas Glumineau's helm, the property bears the distinctive hallmarks of Saint-Estèphe with a modern, elegant twist.
With more than 7 acres farmed under biodyamic practices and an estate-wide HVE Level 3 certification, Pez 2nd is produced sustainably from the young vines of Château de Pez.
Winemaking
Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel (ranging from 90-120 hl) and wooden conical vats (180 hl). The vat best suited to the size of the plot is chosen.
Aged for 12 months in 50% oak barrels (of which 20% new, 30% one-year-old, all medium toast) and 50% conical stainless steel vats.
Tasting Notes
Displaying notes of peony, violet and raspberry, its nose is vibrant and full of promise. The palate is long and powerful, with both floral and fruity notes such as wild strawberry and cherry and grippy, well-integrated tannins.
Harvest Notes
2020 was an extraordinary year and it brought us a wonderful surprise! The investments made at Pez over the last few years are now coming to fruition, through the well balanced and powerful character of these voluptuous wines. 2018, 2019, 2020... a beautiful series in the making!
Another very mild winter favored an early bud break from March 24th. April and May were hot but also very wet with rainfall superior to the last thirty years' average. Despite the rainy spells that preceded it, flowering was early and rapid, from May 20th to the 22nd. After a cool and fairly rainy June, the drought and heat set in for good until mid-August. Careful leaf thinning limited the exposure of the bunches to the sun's heat. The veraison began on August 1st, and lasted until August 6th. The rains that followed were enough to preserve the maturity process after the period of hydric stress. The harvest began on September 11th in dry and healthy conditions. Some rainfall accompanied us until the end of the harvest on September 26th, without affecting the superb quality of the grapes.
Technical Information
Varietals: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot
Wine Alcohol: 13.3%
pH: 3.76
Soil Composition: Gravel, clay and limestone
Average Vine Age: 25 years
Aging: 12 months (mix of French oak barrels and stainless steel vats)