Chateau de Pez

History

Its history dates back to 1452, when the estate was owned by the aristocrat Jean de Briscous. This fact alone makes Château de Pez one of the oldest wine estates in the Médoc, alongside Calon-Ségur. Subsequently, these lands passed to the distinguished Bordeaux family of Pontac, who owned Château Haut-Brion. They owned Pez for approximately two centuries and planted most of the current vineyards. The connection to the Pontac family, which pioneered the concept of “terroir-driven Bordeaux,” is of immense significance. From the very beginning, Pez has carved its name into the history of great Bordeaux wines. The French Revolution changed everything radically. Pez was sold as state property and, over the next two centuries, passed from hand to hand in succession: to the Tarteiron, Balguerie, Lawton, du Vivier, Bernard, and Dousson families. In June 1995, the estate was acquired by Champagne Louis Roederer. Jean-Claude Rouzaud decided to make the purchase after tasting the old vintages and becoming convinced that the potential of the individual vineyard plots, the château itself, and this terroir was not being fully realized. The 1996 vintage was the first produced under the new owner’s leadership, and since then, Pez has been engaged in a long-term and systematic restoration. In 2003, the winery received the “Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel” classification.

One plateau, seventy plots

Château de Pez is located immediately west of the village of Saint-Estèphe. The estate covers a total area of 48 hectares, of which about 42 hectares are vineyards situated on a single hill surrounding the château. This is rare for Bordeaux, where estates are often scattered across several communes.

The vineyards are divided into about 70 plots, and wine from each is produced separately. The upper part of the hill receives ample sunlight; the average age of the vines is 25-30 years, though there are also quite a few older vines among them.

Over the past 20 years, Roederer has undertaken a large-scale replanting of its vineyards, selecting grape varieties for each plot based on soil type. Although this is a labor-intensive and costly process, its results are clearly reflected in the final blend.

Terroir

The soil in Pez is typical of Saint-Estèphe, formed by gravel deposits overlying a layer of clay and limestone. On the hillsides, a thick layer of gravel from the Günzian period ensures good drainage and a rapid rise in temperature. The underlying clay and limestone retain moisture, allowing the vines to absorb it even during dry summers.

It is precisely this combination that defines Pez's character. Cabernet Sauvignon reveals its true potential in the upper part of the gravel layer, which offers the best drainage. Merlot is planted on the lower slopes, where clay-rich soils predominate, and it is there that it gains the necessary moisture and structure.

Saint-Estèphe is the northernmost commune among the leading wine-growing regions of the Haut-Médoc, located at the mouth of the Gironde River. Compared to the more southerly-located Pauillac, the climate here is cooler, ripening occurs later, and the soils contain more clay. Traditionally, this terroir has produced wines with more pronounced tannins. However, at Pez, thanks in part to harvesting and winemaking methods, wines characterized by freshness and lightness are now being crafted from this same terroir.

The grapes

Two grape varieties typical of the Left Bank play the leading role in this vineyard, and the blend is complemented by two secondary varieties:

• 52% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 42% Merlot
• 4% Cabernet Franc
• 2% Petit Verdot

Although Cabernet Sauvignon plays the leading role, Merlot also makes its presence felt as an important partner, and its proportion in the blend is higher than in many châteaux of Saint-Estèphe located further south. It is precisely this balance that is one of the reasons why Pez wines, compared to those of neighboring châteaux, are distinguished by a rounder and more approachable flavor even when young.

Winemaking

Since 2005, Château de Pez has been using a method that the estate refers to as “precision winemaking.” Specifically, wine from each of the 70 plots is produced separately using both wooden and temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Blending takes place in December, after the wines from all plots have been tasted.

The winery’s guiding principle is “gentle extraction.” Rather than seeking to extract as much color and tannins as possible, the wine is allowed to settle, which helps create the smooth and complex structure characteristic of this estate.

Aging takes place in French oak barrels for approximately 15 months, with about half of the barrels being new. By Bordeaux standards, this is a moderate proportion, sufficient to impart spicy notes and a firm structure to the wine without compromising its fruitiness. During aging, the wine is racked every three months, and it is bottled unfiltered.

This vineyard is managed in accordance with the principles of sustainable viticulture and holds HVE Level 3 certification, the highest level of environmental certification in France for active vineyards.

The range

The "Grand Vin" of the "Château de Pez" accounts for the majority of its production. Starting with the 2019 vintage, the estate has added a second wine to its lineup called “2nd Pez.” This wine is fruitier and easier to drink, and can be enjoyed while still young. Its purpose is to showcase the Pez terroir in a lighter and more accessible form. Both wines fall under the category of AOC Saint-Estèphe red wines. Château de Pez does not produce white or rosé wines, and all of its vineyards are planted with grape varieties intended for the production of Bordeaux red wines.