Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend

Good, not great.

2015 vintage. 49% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. From the Cazes stable (Lynch Bages). Surprisingly light on its feet, especially compared to the Haut- Condissas Médoc 2015 tasted alongside. Floral and elegant, more like a Margaux than a Saint- Estèphe. Ready to drink. Abv. 13,5 %.

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (41%), Merlot (50%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Petit Verdot (2%), aged in French oak, 45% new, same ownership as Lynch-Bages. Deep Ruby red color with aromas of red and black fruits with smoky spice. On the palate flavors of black raspberry, currants and black cherry with licorice, toasty oak and tobacco. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and earthy tobacco spice. Starting to drink well now and will continue to develop!

High QPR.

Without a doubt one of the more pleasing 2009s I’ve had, without any of the cooked fruit that I’ve found in so many wines from this vintage. This was fresh, if not overly complex, and made for enjoyable drinking.

Considering the vintage, the Ormes de Pez has turned out quite well in 2007. I have drunk scarcely anything from this vintage in Bordeaux, and probably won’t go bargain hunting after trying this, but it is a commendable wine nonetheless, with fresh, lifted aromas of black-red fruit, a deft touch with tannins, and a pleasing finish. Not bad.

Complex, savory nose has vanilla, dried fall leaves, some plum-skin fruit, and a salty note. Lean and lively in the mouth, it’s yet another ‘17 that reminds me of how basic Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux from vintages like ‘79 and ‘81 tasted. Just barely ripe enough, zero jammy sweet fruit. Nice acids and abundant soft tannins. The finish is slightly astringent. Not bad.

2019 vintage. An estate owned by the Cazes family (Lynch Bages, Haut Batailley). A blend of Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Petit Verdot (3%). Less flashy compared to the Capbern 2019 tasted yesterday, give it some time to open up. Even with the high Merlot percentage, it has more of a dark Cabernet Sauvignon personality with black fruit and a serious, slightly severe tannic backbone. Abv. 14,5 %.

My first bottle opening of a 2009 Bordeaux. We’ve tasted a number of 2009’s, this is the first one we’ve opened. Showing the glory of 2009, even in a lesser bottling. I’ll say it again, for the value buyer of Bordeaux’s, buy good producers second, third or other wines. 2009, perhaps, the best Bordeaux vintage since 1982.

Good first look to judge better more expensive, quality producers of 2009 Bordeaux wines for when to best open your first. I would say those need another 8-10 years more in bottle to have them fully shine to buying expectations.

Family member from the Jean-Michel Cazes family that brings us Lynch Bages.

The 2009 shows better on its own than with our Wagyu Ribcap.

It simply shows the elegant beauty of the vintage. It brings similarities to 1982.

It shows velvet tannins with ripe, ruby fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, poached strawberries & raspberries. Bay leaf, wet clay, dark spice with heat, limestone, dry, crushed rocks, nutmeg, clove, soft cinnamon & understated vanillin, black licorice, dry twig, spearmint, tough leather, dry tobacco, graphite, oak barrel shavings with fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple florals. Acidity for days. Straight up; lush, well knitted and balanced finish that persists nicely for minutes.

Photos of; Chateau Ormes de Pez, Saint-Estephe vineyard, inside the Chateau-breakfast room and their barrel room.

1/15/21

Dark chocolate, dried fruits, iron, soy sauce... awesome find for $30 bucks.