Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Château Ormes de Pez 2023 – Saint-Estèphe. BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
An approachable and easy-drinking Bordeaux red from the Cazes family (Lynch-Bages lineage), offering a friendly, polished expression designed for immediate pleasure rather than intensity. The 47% Cabernet-driven blended with 39% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot delivers clean fruit, gentle structure, and balanced freshness, making it an ideal casual and versatile claret.

Aromas & Flavors
Red cherry, blackcurrant, plum skin, light cedar, subtle graphite, dried herbs, soft cocoa and gentle spice.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with smooth entry, soft tannins, moderate acidity, easy mid-palate flow, and a clean, uncomplicated finish that stays friendly and accessible.

Food Pairings
Burgers, roast chicken, grilled sausages, pizza, casual bistro fare, semi-soft cheeses, weeknight comfort foods.

Verdict
A reliable, crowd-pleasing Saint-Estèphe that emphasizes drinkability and balance over depth and complexity. A well-made, approachable red for casual enjoyment and broad appeal.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is a cruising wine, safe lines, smooth handling, and zero surprises. Perfect when you want something dependable, easygoing, and friendly on the palate without needing full focus or contemplation. — 5 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2016 vintage. Jean-Michel Cazes (owner of famous Pauillac Cru Classé Lynch-Bages and more recently Haut-Batailley) bought this Minervois estate in 2002. This is the "grand vin", a blend of 70% Syrah, 15% Carignan, 20% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre. A very spicy concentrated wine that is more about power than finesse. The colour is still deep dark red with hardly any sign of evolution. Intense spicy nose. Bold and powerful with black fruit hidden in spices. Long peppery finish. Take no prisoners. Abv. 14,5%. — 4 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.1

A winegrower that I have been following with passion for several years: Explosive bouquet of fruits and flowers, enhanced with cinnamon notes. A "natural" Beaujolais Gamay, light and crunchy in the first hours after opening. Then the wine unfolds and unfolds again. After 12 hours, the wine is round. The acidity is lively and the tannins are both tight and opulent. It is delicate and full. Wonderful on a home-made marguerita pizza (with arugula).

Un vigneron que je suis depuis quelques années avec passion. Bouquet explosif de fruits et de fleurs, rehaussé de notes cannelées. Un gamay « nature » du Beaujolais, léger et croquant au premières heures après l’ouverture. Puis le vin se déploie et se déploie encore. Après 12h on a un vin rond, ample, l’acidité est vive et les tanins sont à la fois serrés et opulents. C’est fin délicat et ample. Magnifique sur une pizza marguerita home-made (avec de la roquette). — 5 years ago

Jordi Pazo

9.7

Vila. Tast Vins Dolços del Rosselló. 80% Garnatxa Blanca, 20% Garnatxa Negra. 92,75.
28.10.19 — 7 years ago

R D B

9.2

2016 vintage. Served at dinner party M&S. So perfect with filet mignon. Would buy again. M NOLA — 7 years ago

Pip Davie

9.0

Smooth first taste.
From Collioure in Rossillion region
Made from mix of Syrah, Grenache & Mourvedre grapes. — 8 years ago

leon egozi

9.5

NY wine spectator event — 8 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

#secondwine of #stemiliongrandcru first growth Château Chauvin. Absolutely an excellent wine for the price. 95% #merlot 5% #cabernetfranc , understated cassis and purple plum nose, medium plus body on the palate, pretty soft fruit balanced by bright acidity, some mineral undertones and soft tannins after 8 years of bottle age. — 2 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Greedy cherry notes. Volume, freshness. Pepper and spices, eucalyptus. Perfect on a pasta al tonno roquette salad, tomatoes, parmigiano. 😍

De la griotte en veux tu en voila! ...sertie de notes poivrées et herbacées. Du volume, de la fraîcheur. Parfait sur une pasta al tonno roquette tomates cerises parmesan. 😍 — 5 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

This estate was bought in 1988 buy Jean-Michel Cazes (Lynch Bages and more recently Haut-Batailley) and sold in 2017 to the Balland family (Baret). 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged in used Lynch Bages barrels. This 2014 is in a very good place now, but should age well for a few more years. Fresh and elegant, with typical Graves spiciness. Not the most complex but a very solid and seductive effort for the vintage. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Had this about 2 years ago. The estate once belonged to the famous Lynch family, of Irish origin, was acquired by Jean-Charles Cazes in 1934. His grandson, Jean-Michel Cazes restructured the estate in 1974. A blend of 73% Cab Sauv & 27% Merlot, deep Ruby (lost purple edges), pronounced berry fruit aromas with cacao and vanilla notes. On the palate blackberry and plum flavors with tobacco and espresso notes. Dusty fine tannins, long ending with an oaky mineral character. Developed well! Tasting Sample! — 6 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.0

This wine is 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. It had plenty of dark and almost smoky plummy fruit yet remains surprisingly elegant. Nice mineral notes, good but not overbearing acidity and a fine hint of garrigue. Lots of class. — 8 years ago

Wai Min Higa

8.9

Wonderful surprise! Well balanced rich after taste pleasant berry less acidity. — 8 years ago

Jeffrey Woo

9.5

Deep, burnt orange hue. Aromas and flavors of beeswax, dried fruit, honey, marmalade, and preserves. The palate is reminiscent of baklava (with nutty, honey, and date notes). An exemplary dessert wine that should be served in a pairing. 100% Grenache Blanc. — a year ago

Pooneet K

9.1

Have CdP somewhat rarely now but was curious to try this both because it’s 2016 and because it’s now owned by the Cazes family of Lynch-Bages in Bordeaux and who have been extremely hospitable to us in the past. Was skeptical of the 15% labeled abv but I think this is in a great place with a bit of a chill. The fruit is quite powerful, but in a great way, and nothing is overbearing. Perfect with skirt steak off the grill. — 3 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2016 vintage. 65% Sauvignon blanc with 35% Sémillon. At the time this estate was owned by Jean-Michel Cazes (Lynch Bages and more recently Haut-Batailley), but the current owners are the Groupe Ballande (Bordeaux négociants who also own Prieuré Lichine and Baret). Exotic fruit and a hint of flowers. Round and ripe with enough acidity in this warm vintage. Good length with impressions of vanilla. Good value. — 5 years ago

Nate Wall

Winemaker at Troon Vineyard

9.0

50% Syrah, 40% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache. Great texture. Berries, leather, anise. Tad of bitterness on finish, in an Italian kind of way. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

See previous notes 30 weeks ago. Very similar. Mid Lemon in colour. Citrus on the nose with grapefruit predominant. The palate is overall a little more lean than I would like - a little austere for a 7 year old Chardonnay - perhaps the grapes were picked a little too early? Still lively with that acid but could do with a little more mid palate fruit. Made by Brian Croser who used to be at Petaluma some years ago before he started Tapanappa in 2002 in conjunction with Bollinger and the Cazes Family of Lynch Bages in Pauillac. Brian was Decanters Man of the Year in 2004. — 6 years ago

TheElder Pinot

9.3

Delightful, pure SW France. Perfectly ripe with that typical hint of dustiness. 14% alc but not really noticeable. Will buy/drink again.
— 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Reception pour at the Jean-Michel Cazes dinner.

On the nose; sweet & sour cherries, strawberries, under ripened tangerines, black cherries, brioche, nice volcanic minerals and red & pink roses.

The body is rich. Sweet & sour cherries, strawberries, under ripened tangerines, black cherries, ripe rhubarb notes, more brioche than the nose, seashells & oysters, nice volcanic minerals and red & pink roses. — 8 years ago