Ormes de Pez, Chateau
Summary
Château Ormes de Pez is a 40-hectare Saint-Estèphe estate in Bordeaux's northern Médoc, owned by the Cazes family since 1940, producing structured Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines from gravelly, clay-limestone soils that benefit from the Gironde estuary's moderating influence. The estate maintains traditional Bordeaux winemaking principles while implementing modern techniques like temperature-controlled fermentation and parcel-by-parcel vinification, aging their wines 12-15 months in French oak to express the appellation's characteristic firm structure and earthy mineral notes.
Heritage & Leadership
Château Ormes de Pez has stood as a fixture in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux since the 18th century. The estate's name derives from the elm trees ("ormes" in French) that once surrounded the property and the village of Pez where it is situated. In 1940, the estate entered a new chapter when Jean-Charles Cazes, owner of Château Lynch-Bages in Pauillac, acquired the property, establishing a family connection that continues to this day.
The Cazes family stewardship has spanned multiple generations, with Jean-Michel Cazes significantly developing the estate during his tenure from the 1970s through the early 2000s. Today, the property operates under the direction of Jean-Charles Cazes, representing the fourth generation of family ownership. This continuity of vision has allowed Ormes de Pez to maintain its distinctive identity while benefiting from the winemaking expertise developed across the Cazes family's portfolio of estates.
The château itself, with its classic Médoc architecture, serves as both the physical and spiritual center of the property, housing the winemaking facilities that have been progressively modernized while respecting traditional methods. As a Cru Bourgeois classified estate, Ormes de Pez occupies an important position in the hierarchy of Saint-Estèphe properties, offering wines that express the appellation's characteristic structure and longevity.
Vineyards & Wines
Château Ormes de Pez encompasses 40 hectares of vineyards in the northern Médoc, specifically in the Saint-Estèphe appellation. The vineyard parcels are planted on gravelly rises typical of the region, with soils composed of a mix of gravel, clay, and limestone that provide excellent drainage while retaining sufficient moisture during dry periods.
The vineyard composition reflects traditional Médoc planting patterns, with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon forming the backbone of the estate's wines. This is complemented by 40% Merlot, which adds roundness and accessibility, along with 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot that contribute aromatic complexity and structure. The average vine age stands at 35 years, with some parcels containing vines over 50 years old.
The estate produces approximately 15,000 cases annually of its primary wine, Château Ormes de Pez, which typically displays the firm tannic structure characteristic of Saint-Estèphe, along with dark fruit flavors and earthy mineral notes. The property also produces a second wine, Chapelle d'Ormes de Pez, which offers a more approachable expression of the estate's terroir.
Vineyard management follows traditional Médoc practices, with careful attention to canopy management and yield control to ensure optimal ripening. The proximity to the Gironde estuary provides a moderating influence on temperatures, helping to protect against both spring frosts and summer heat spikes.
Philosophy & Practice
At Château Ormes de Pez, winemaking philosophy centers on expressing the distinctive character of Saint-Estèphe while maintaining consistency across vintages. Harvest is conducted parcel by parcel, with each block picked at optimal ripeness and vinified separately to preserve its unique characteristics.
The winemaking facilities have been progressively updated, now featuring temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks that allow for precise fermentation management. Following fermentation, the wines undergo malolactic fermentation in tanks before being transferred to oak barrels for aging. The estate employs a traditional aging regimen of 12-15 months in French oak barrels, with approximately 45% new oak used each year.
The Cazes family applies techniques refined at their flagship Château Lynch-Bages, including careful extraction methods that aim to build structure without excessive astringency. This approach is particularly important in Saint-Estèphe, where the higher clay content in the soils can produce more robust tannins.
Final blending decisions are made after careful evaluation of each lot, with the goal of creating a wine that balances power with elegance and aging potential with relative accessibility in youth. The technical team conducts regular tastings throughout the aging process to monitor development and determine the optimal time for bottling.
The estate maintains traditional vineyard practices while incorporating modern techniques where beneficial, focusing on achieving consistent quality that reflects both the vintage conditions and the distinctive terroir of this northern Médoc property.