2012 Château de Pez - St. Estèphe (88 pts) @chateaudepez

2012 Château de Pez - St. Estèphe (88 pts) @chateaudepez @mmdusa · 🙋‍♂️ What is your favorite wine from St. Estèphe❓· ℹ️ This wine was tasted single blind with a theme intended to identify specific communes of left bank Bordeaux wines. Château de Pez is classified as a Cru Bourgeois in St. Estèphe. The vineyard is planted with 48% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. The vineyard was 70% Cabernet Sauvignon until the mid 90s. Current average vine age is 25 years old. Aged in French oak barrels with 40% new oak, 40% 1st year oak, and 20% 2nd year oak. The wine is unfiltered· 👁 Medium+ ruby color with a pale rim· 👃 Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of oak, toast, tar, Brett, roasted tomato, blackcurrant, blackberry, leather, and cedar· 👄 The wine is dry, medium+ acidity, high drying tannins, medium+ alcohol, and medium+ body.. A medium length finish of blackberry, tar, and leather· 🧠 Showing some age by rim and tertiary notes of leather. Guessed 2010 vintage. This wine had a rustic charm, sanguine and hearty. There was a touch of Brett which could be anywhere in Bordeaux. It felt Cabernet Sauvignon dominant thinking 70% and 30% Merlot. Based on the rustic nature I placed it in St. Estèphe, but was assuming a $90 price point due to the high oak treatment (~60% new). Final guess 2010 St. Estèphe· 🔔 Right commune, but wrong on vintage, blend, and price. This another solid value in Bordeaux. It is a good wine and currently at peak drinking window. I must say when I drink Bordeaux "rustic" is not exactly what I am looking to get out of the bottle. That being said Saint Estèphe has great wines. My heart belongs to Cos d'Estournel, but I sometimes fancy a rendezvous with Château Montrose or Château Calon-Ségur 🥰· 😎 In Blind, We Trust