2023 de Pez

The 2023 de Pez is packed with ripe blackberry, scorched earth, leather and incense. Powerful and quite broad, the 2023 is a decidedly big, dark wine. Wild Saint-Estèphe acids and tannins are nicely tamed, but the wine's essential brawn is impossible to fully escape. Drink this with a juicy steak.

The 2023 Château de Pez has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, cassis and veins of blood orange that give the aromatics real lift. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip. Dark berry fruit, hints of brown spice and graphite, nicely balanced with a classic Saint-Estèphe, tertiary, slightly flinty finish. Give this 2 or 3 years in bottle.

The Grand Vin 2023 Château De Pez checks in as 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, resting in 50% new oak for a year, with the final six months in foudre. It has a core of spicy red and black fruits as well as savory flowers, spicy wood, and tobacco. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, ripe, beautifully textured, seamless wine that has plenty of tannins as well as outstanding length. The quality here continues to soar, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this check in as one of the finest vintages to date from this château. Tasted twice.