Château Lalande de Pez 2018 Saint-Estèphe - Bordeaux

Alcohol: 13%

Grape(s): 53% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Petit Verdot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc.

Localization: Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France

Tasting Notes: The bouquet of this wine expresses notes of blackcurrant, cherry, and licorice as well as a hint of minerals. Rich and complex, this wine maintains the balance between density and harmony, power and refinement, race and the precision of its tannins.

Food pairing: It will pair perfectly with grilled meats, game, and hard cheeses.

The Domain: Created in the 15th century, Chateau de Pez is the oldest Domaine in Saint Estèphe. The Pontac family, who also created Haut-Brion, gave Pez its vineyards. The Domaine was sold as a property of the state after the French Revolution and owned by a succession of families before it was purchased by Champagne Louis Roederer in 1995.

Chateau de Pez is located west of the town of Saint-Estèphe. The estate consists of 74 contiguous acres, with 54 acres under vine. The vineyard is situated on a high plateau with well-exposed slopes. From a summit of 59 ft. the land descends northward to 39 ft.

Chateau de Pez remains resolutely faithful to wood. The blend is composed in December and the wine is stored in barrels where it is racked every three months. After approximately one year, roughly midway through the maturation process, the wine is fined using fresh egg whites. The wine is matured in small oak casks with 40% new oak, 30% "Premier vin", 30% "Deuxième vin". It should be noted that the wine undergoes absolutely no filtration.