Château de Pez 2014

Tasting Notes and Serving Tips for Château de Pez 2014

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a deep purple-red hue with garnet highlights and slight brick tones at the rim, reflecting fine maturity.

Nose

The nose reveals aromatic complexity marked by earthy notes characteristic of the terroir. Aromas of black fruit and blackcurrant dominate, accompanied by hints of cedar, cigar box and tobacco. Spicy and cocoa nuances add an extra dimension, while floral notes and fresh red fruit lend energy and elegance to the bouquet.

Palate

The attack is delicate and refined, evolving into a substantial mid-palate without heaviness. Silky, elegant tannins shape the palate with finesse, integrating harmoniously. The mid-palate unveils flavors of black fruit—especially blackcurrant and plum—enhanced by mineral and earthy notes. The velvety texture provides richness and breadth. The finish, remarkably long and complex, lingers with cocoa notes, dark fruit and subtle spices.

Food and Wine Pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled or braised red meats, roast lamb, duck and game dishes. It also goes very well with mushroom-based dishes, especially those featuring truffles, as well as aged cheeses. Chocolate-based desserts can also be an excellent match.

Serving and Cellaring

Château de Pez 2014 can be decanted for about 30 minutes to one hour before serving to fully reveal its aromas. Ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 15.5 and 18°C. This wine can be enjoyed through around 2027, or even beyond under optimal cellaring conditions.

An Elegant, Structured Saint-Estèphe from Château de Pez

The Estate

Founded in 1452, Château de Pez is among the oldest estates in Saint-Estèphe. Its 48-hectare vineyard in a single block lies on gravel soils over a clay-limestone base overlooking the Gironde estuary, benefiting from a regulating microclimate. Owned by the Rouzaud family (Maison de Champagne Louis Roederer) since 1995, the estate has been managed by Nicolas Glumineau since 2012. Parcel-by-parcel replanting, a modern vat room inaugurated in 2018, and plot-by-plot vinification define a style that combines spicy robustness, approachability and complexity.

The Vineyard

The Château de Pez vineyard covers 48 hectares in a single block on the heights of Saint-Estèphe, reaching nearly 23 meters above sea level. The soils are composed of Quaternary gravels over a clay-limestone base, offering remarkable balance and optimal natural drainage. Proximity to the Gironde estuary provides protection against spring frosts and brings beneficial thermal regulation throughout the growing cycle.

The Vintage

The 2014 vintage in Bordeaux was marked by a relatively cool start to the season in spring and during part of the summer. The arrival of an Indian summer from September onward transformed the outlook for the vintage, providing ideal conditions for phenolic ripening. This extended sunny period produced generous Merlots, elegant and distinctive Cabernet Sauvignons, as well as highly complex Cabernet Francs and Petit Verdots. Harvesting stretched over five weeks, allowing each plot to be picked at optimal ripeness.

Vinification and Aging

Vinification of Château de Pez 2014 is carried out plot by plot in traditional wooden vats and thermoregulated conical stainless-steel vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in wooden and stainless-steel vats. Aging lasts about 15 months in French oak barrels, with 40% new oak, 40% first-wine barrels and 20% second-wine barrels. Regular rackings are performed every three months. The wine is not filtered before bottling, preserving the full range of its aromatic compounds and its texture.

Grape Varieties

Cabernet sauvignon (56 %)
Merlot (41 %)
Petit verdot (3 %).