Saint-Estèphe château named for elm trees, producing a Merlot led red wine aged in French oak.
The producer
Château Ormes de Pez is a Saint-Estèphe estate in the Médoc, west of Saint-Estèphe and beside the hamlet of Pez. Its name refers to elm trees that once grew on the property. The estate carries Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel classification and produces a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine ages for 16 months in French oak, with 45% new wood. Vines average 30 years old and are planted at 9,000 vines per hectare.
Known for
Merlot led Saint-Estèphe reds
Notable facts
The estate was established in the 18th century.
Château Ormes de Pez holds Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel classification.
Vines average 30 years old and are planted at 9,000 vines per hectare.
The wine ages for 16 months in French oak, with 45% new wood.
The story
The Cazes Family Purchase
In 1939, Jean-Charles Cazes purchased Château Ormes de Pez. It became the Cazes family's second major Bordeaux estate, after Château Lynch-Bages. The property stood west of Saint-Estèphe, bordering the hamlet of Pez, and carried a name drawn from the elm trees that once grew there. The grove no longer exists today. The purchase added Ormes de Pez to the family holdings alongside Château Lynch-Bages, while the estate's name continued to refer to the old trees.
From the atlas
Château Ormes de Pez
A Saint-Estèphe château named for elm trees, producing a red blend aged in French oak.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Appellation
Saint-Estèphe
Classification
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
Estate history
Established in the 18th century
Defining feature
Named for elm trees formerly grown on the property
The Producer
Château Ormes de Pez has belonged to the Médoc landscape since the 18th century. Close to 18,000 cases are produced each year. Its vines average 30 years old, with a planting density of 9,000 vines per hectare.
The estate carries Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel classification. Its red wine is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, with Merlot forming the largest share of the current composition.
Place
West of Saint-Estèphe, Château Ormes de Pez borders the hamlet of Pez. The soil is gravelly with a slight sandy-clay composition.
Gravel generally drains quickly, while clay holds moisture around the roots. In a red vineyard, that combination can support ripening while limiting standing water after rain.
Wines
Château Ormes de Pez is a red Saint-Estèphe blend composed of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The wine ages for 16 months in French oak barrels, with 45% new wood.
New oak can contribute toast and spice while allowing gradual oxygen contact during ageing. The tannic framework gives the wine an opulent palate and a rounded shape.
Final Word
Château Ormes de Pez is a Saint-Estèphe red blend with opulence and rounded tannins, made under the name of the elm trees that once stood on the property.