Ormes de Pez - Saint-Estèphe 2023

Wine Advocate

91

par Yohan Castaing le 10/04/2026

Approachable and open, the 2023 Ormes de Pez emerges from the glass with aromas of dark berries, flowers and licorice, discreetly accented by oak. Medium- to full-bodied, it is dense yet gently structured, offering good depth at the core and concluding with a long, mineral finish. Fresh and velvety, it offers immediate pleasure while retaining enough structure to evolve gracefully. This is a blend of 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

The Wine Palate

87

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 09/04/2026

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Ormes de Pez scoots out of the glass with ready-to-go notes of juicy blackberries and black cherries, plus hints of stewed plums, hoisin, and tar. Medium-bodied, the palate is soft and juicy, with savory accents to the black fruit flavors and a refreshing finish. The blend is 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92

par Jeb Dunnuck le 31/03/2026

A floral, complex wine, the 2023 Château Ormes De Pez offers red and black fruits, sappy spring flowers, and graphite on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, round, and supple on the palate, it has polished tannins and outstanding length. Based on 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot and aged 16 months in 45% new French oak, it's a beautiful effort from this estate. Drink 2027-2040.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93

par Jeff Leve le 30/03/2026

Cocoa, mint, cherries, tobacco and licorice aromas jump from the glass with a single swirl. The medium-bodied palate is and fruity, with peppery edge to the finish. Give it a year or two in the bottle, and this should be even better. This is showing much better in the bottle than it did during the barrel tastings, which is always a great sign. The wine is a blend of 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2042.

Vinous

92

par Antonio Galloni le 16/03/2026

The 2023 Ormes de Pez is a rich, potent wine. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and chocolate fill out the layers. This virile, somber Saint-Estèphe packs a pretty serious punch. There's a bit of burliness in the tannins, but then again, this is Saint-Estèphe.

Vinous

88

par Neal Martin le 01/02/2026

The 2023 Ormes de Pez was rather perplexing from barrel and now in bottle, well, it seems to vindicate my tepid reaction. The nose somehow seems quite distant, missing a bit of presence and fruit concentration. The palate is better but the tannins feel obdurate, unyielding, with a grippy finish that calls for a bit more "flesh around the bones." Let's see how it shows with further bottle age.

Decanter.com

92

par Georgina Hindle le 01/02/2026

Clean and fresh with a nice herbal and softly savoury edge to the red berry fruit - mint, thyme, strawberries and wet earth alongside liquorice and graphite which add the mineral edge. Still quite compact in the mouth with the tannins at the fore but once they settle this will be nice. Cool and classic. Well worked.

Jamessuckling.com

92

par James Suckling le 27/01/2026

Aromas of dark plums, violets, frozen strawberries and dark cherries. Tightly wound and a little grainy, with a medium to full body and a long, tight, slightly chewy finish. 55% merlot, 34% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Give it two more years to soften.

Yvesbeck.wine

92-93

par Yves Beck le 14/05/2024

Viel Frische, blumige Nuancen und Subtilität im Bouquet von Ormes de Pez. Mit etwas Luft nimmt das Bouquet an Intensität zu und zeigt schließlich Noten von schwarzen Beeren und Graphit. Der Wein ist samtig und von guter Dichte und zeichnet sich durch die Finesse seiner Tannine aus, die zudem lieblich sind. Ein einladender und überzeugender Ormes de Pez mit einem fruchtigen und lang anhaltenden Abgang.

Jeb DUNNUCK

91-93

par Jeb Dunnuck le 13/05/2024

Lots of smoky red and black fruits, leafy tobacco, minty herbs, and some crushed stone-like minerality all define the 2023 Château Ormes De Pez, a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated 2023 that has plenty of tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a beautiful, seriously good wine from this château that will need short-term bottle age to show at its best.

The Wine Independent

86-88

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 07/05/2024

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Ormes de Pez rolls effortlessly out of the glass with notes of baked plums, boysenberry preserves, and kirsch plus nuances of wet pebbles and cedar. The medium-bodied palate is soft, with just enough fruit nicely balanced by soft tannins, finishing with a refreshing lift. The blend is 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.

The Drinks Business

89-91

par Colin Hay le 07/05/2024

Ormes de Pez (St-Estèphe; 55% Merlot; 34% Cabernet Sauvignon; 6% Cabernet Franc; 5% Petit Verdot; IPT 77; pH 3.71; aging in oak barrels, 45% of them new; 13.5% alcohol; tasted at the UGC press tasting at the Cité du Vin and then at Lynch Bages). Peony and iris and a slightly more artificial floral perfume note, above all when tasted Lynch Bages. Chunky, bold and deep, if just a little severe and austere. Bramble and blackberry; assorted briary fruits. The tannins are somewhat considerable and a bit edgy on the finish. Not flattered perhaps by being tasted alongside the wines from Lynch Bages, I will look forward to tasting this with interest. 

The Wine Cellar Insider

90-92

par Jeff Leve le 06/05/2024

Cedar, mint, tobacco and currants come to the front of the wine with ease. The medium-bodied palate is soft, chewy, and fresh, with a peppery edge to the red cherries, and currants in the finish. Give it a year or two in the bottle, and this should be quite nice. The wine is a blend of 55% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2042. 90-92 Pts.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

92

par Jane Anson le 06/05/2024

Plenty of Ormes de Pez sappy tannins and rich black fruit character, great quality, easy to recommend and should offer good value. No frost, and despite mildew pressure final yields of 51hl/h, 45% new oak, harvest September 14 through into October 4.

Vinous

91-93

par Antonio Galloni le 30/04/2024

The 2023 Ormes de Pez is a powerful, bold Saint-Estèphe. Black cherry, gravel, incense, chocolate, tobacco, licorice and cured meat infuse the 2023 with tons of Saint-Estèphe personality. Burly and rustic, in a good sense, the 2023 has tons of character. The Merlots feel pretty ripe and exuberant in this sample.

Vinous

91-93

par Neal Martin le 29/04/2024

The 2023 Ormes de Pez was picked from September 19. This was tasted two or three times. I must confess, I was not taken by the bottle poured at Lynch Bages, which felt high-toned and a bit blowsy. However, the last bottle tasted at the UGC was far better: a more classically-hewn nose with tertiary notes of tar and graphite infusing the black fruit. Quintessential Saint-Estèphe. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and well balanced with gentle grip. The new oak (45%) is well integrated. Suffice it to say, this is much more promising.

Falstaff

93

par Peter Moser le 29/04/2024

Deep dark ruby, opaque core. Delicate roasted aromas, cassis, some liquorice, invit- ing bouquet. Medium body, ripe cherries, round tannins, fresh and persistent, a lively food wine, fine fruitiness in the finish, good ageing potential.

Alexandre Ma

91-93

par Alexandre Ma le 28/04/2024

Wine Advocate

90-91

par William Kelley le 26/04/2024

Aromas of dark berries, cassis and creamy new oak introduce the 2023 Ormes de Pez, a medium-bodied, rich and creamy wine with a lively core of fruit and sweet structuring tannins. At 55%, Merlot dominates the blend.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

par James Suckling le 25/04/2024

A spicy and juicy red with a tight center-palate, medium body, creamy tannins and a savory finish. Vivid and focused. Shows finesse.