Château De Pez 2019

Château de Pez is a red Bordeaux from the AOC Saint-Estèphe, owned since 1995 by Louis Roederer and worked across 39 hectares on the hills west of the commune. The estate is one of the oldest vineyards in the Médoc. The wine is a blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a touch of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc filling out the structure and aromatics. Saint-Estèphe sits at the northern end of the Médoc, where deeper clay among the gravel mounds retains water and gives the wines their firm, savoury backbone. The gravel warms the Cabernet and aids drainage, while the cooler clay subsoils hold freshness and tannin. Ageing runs to 14 months in French oak, adding slow oxygen exchange, cedar and fine grain to the tannin. The colour is deep garnet. The nose shows blackcurrant, plum and red currant over cedar, tobacco and earth. The palate is medium to full, with firm, fine tannin, fresh acidity and a long savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, and decant an hour or two ahead. A natural match for lamb and beef.