Ormes de Pez 2011

The 2011 Les Ormes de Pez has an impressive bouquet, beautifully defined, not intense but precise, earthy black fruit mixed with tar and freshly rolled tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins. Exquisite balance, not complex, but so much freshness with the most tension revealed on the finish. This was a bit of a turn up for the books and trumped some of Saint-Estèphe's more auspicious residents. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. 2022 - 2036

Tasted blind. Intense crimson. Rather soft and un St-Estèphe-like. Good fruit and friendliness. A solid effort with the tannins kicking in only on the very end. 2020 – 2030

This non-classified St Estèphe is often a bargain in Bordeaux, and fingers crossed that it will be so this year, too. It's a classic St Estèphe, but with a little more finesse than some. The tannic power is more than balanced by the succulent black fruits, sweet oak and fresh acidity. The austerity will soften with age. 10+ years.

Finely expressed cassis fruit, slightly leathery and firm, good ripe middle palate and will show well. Drink 2014-2022.