Juicy red, blue, and black fruits, sappy herbs, violets, and chocolate notes all emerge from the 2022 Château De Pez, a ripe, full-bodied, opulent Pez that has a balanced, layered style that's already hard to resist. I love how this has come together since En Primeur, and this is well worth a case purchase. It’s going to deliver the goods any time over the coming two decades or more.
94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2025)
Black cherry and dark currant fruit is lightly mulled in feel, while sweet tobacco, chestnut leaf and singed alder notes wrap around it. The earth-tinged finish shows focus and poise. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2038.
94 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (May 2025)
Serious depth and complexity on the nose, showing a refreshing touch of spearmint to the pure blue fruit, cassis and minerals plus a hint of incense and graphite. Powerful but polished and taut in tannins with a linear set of fruit on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Structured, fine-boned and well-dissolved with a fresh, lengthy finish. 38% cabernet sauvignon, 59% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Great for aging. Drink from 2027.
94 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Dec 2024)
Austerity is your friend in an En Primeur sample as long as there is juice and fruit, and here you have both things in abundance. Brilliant wine, absolutely one to look out for, has steely minerality that offsets the plump fruit character and intense tannic structure, this is concentrated but understated, everthing in proportion. First time on the Place this year, as before it was sold via an exclusivity. First vintage with new cellar also. Tasted twice, this is a buy. 26hl/h yield, half of usual, 50% new oak for ageing.
94 points, Jane Anson (May 2023)
Lively, fresh and open with lots of clear and clean red berry fruit and salty, stone-edged tannins. Sleek and svelte, nice energy and focus; not plush or overtly powerful. Has definitely lost its en primeur heft and become slightly lighter and more appealing, with energy and vibrancy, yet you still know it has muscles and will age well.
94 points, Georgie Hindle, Decanter (Dec 2024)
The 2022 Château de Pez, which was affected by hail in June, now undergoes a gentler extraction and aged in barrels from different coopers than previously. It has a classy, well-defined bouquet with crushed stone, truffle and black fruit aromas unfolding neatly on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied and tertiary in style like a Saint-Estèphe ought to be, with firm tannins, gentle grip and a dash of cracked black pepper on the finish. This is excellent.
93 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2025)
Polished and charming, the 2022 de Pez bursts with aromas of blackberries, vanilla pod and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and velvety palate that's integrated and expressive. This will offer a broad drinking window. As readers may remember, this estate has now been fully restructured and serves as something of a research and development laboratory for its sibling, Pichon Lalande, and director Nicolas Glumineau and his team have been working to bring more precision and purity to the wine.
92 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Mar 2025)
The density of this wine masks the powerful tannins. A rich black fruit aroma and a spicy texture give the wine concentration and black fruits. The aging ability is very present. Drink from 2028.
92 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Oct 2025)