Château Tour de Pez Cru Bourgeois 2008

For many centuries, this property was known by the name of l'Hereteyre (The Heiress). In 1931 it was given the name of Château Tour de Pez, due to the existence of a twelfth-century tower which overlooked the buildings and plots of land listed on the cadastral register under the name of Pez. Part of the vineyard lies on gravelly hilltops next to such prestigious properties as Calon Ségur, Phélan Ségur and Montrose, while other parts consist of clay-limestone soil around the hamlets of Leyssac and Aillan. The harvests are carried out manually with double sorting in the vineyard and the vat room. The bunches are completely destemmed. The wines are aged for 15 months, with half of the barrels renewed each year. Well structured, full-bodied, dense and tannic, this wine has great aging potential. The property was promoted to Cru Bourgeois Supérieur status in the June 2003 revision of the 1932 classification.

The Tour de Pez teams, advised by Eric Boissenot, have made wise choices in opting to emphasise suppleness and elegance in the grand vin. With a predominance of Merlot, and limited woodiness (40% new wood), La Tour de Pez produces aromas of mocha, black berries and licorice. In the mouth, it is surprisingly fresh, indulgent and balanced. A fine example of a Saint-Estèphe.