Château Ormes de Pez is one of Saint-Estèphe’s most welcoming and consistent voices — a Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel that blends the appellation’s hallmark structure with charm and accessibility. Nestled just outside the village of Pez, the estate takes its name from the elm trees (ormes) that once shaded the property, and from the local hamlet that has long shaped its identity. Since 1936, it has been owned by the Cazes family of Château Lynch-Bages, whose steady stewardship has brought both continuity and quiet refinement to this Left Bank classic.

The vineyard spans 40 hectares on the characteristic gravel and clay soils of Saint-Estèphe, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The terroir offers natural drainage and density — elements that lend the wine its structure and aging potential. Viticulture is sustainable and focused, guided by the same precision that defines the family’s work in Pauillac. Grapes are harvested parcel by parcel, and vinification takes place in stainless steel before ageing in French oak barrels, roughly half of which are new. The winemaking philosophy emphasizes purity and balance over extraction or overt oak.

The wine of Ormes de Pez is robust, generous, and classically styled. Cabernet Sauvignon offers backbone — blackcurrant, graphite, and earth — while Merlot softens the mid-palate with ripe plum and a touch of cocoa. The tannins are firm but rounded, giving the wine a sense of accessibility even in its youth, while maintaining the structure to reward cellaring. Aromatics of cedar, dried herbs, and crushed berries evolve gracefully with time, revealing a Saint-Estèphe that is more open-knit than austere, more polished than rustic.

What sets Château Ormes de Pez apart is its spirit of conviviality. It is a wine made not for collectors alone, but for tables, gatherings, and the simple pleasure of sharing well-made Bordeaux. Under the guidance of Jean-Charles Cazes, the estate continues to evolve with sensitivity to its heritage and a commitment to crafting wines that are as reliable as they are enjoyable.

Château Ormes de Pez is for those who seek Médoc with both structure and soul — a wine that delivers authenticity without pretense, and whose value lies not only in age-worthiness, but in its genuine expression of place and family.