Three wines from Bordeaux’s famous Cazes family

Cazes is one of the most renowned names in France’s Bordeaux, France, with a wine-business dynasty stretching back four generations. Originally from Ariège, in southwest France, the Cazes family moved to Médoc in 1875.

Patriarch Jean-Charles Cazes acquired Château Lynch-Bages in 1939. The château is popular with both international wine lovers and the Bordelais.

Although the family is best known for Lynch-Bages, its portfolio also includes Château Ormes de Pez, in St Estèphe; Château Haut-Batailley, in Pauillac; Domaine de L’Ostal, in Minervois, Languedoc; and Domaine des Sénéchaux, in the southern Rhône.

Under the leadership of third-generation winemaker Jean-Michel Cazes, the business underwent extensive modernisation. As well as the acquisition of other Bordeaux properties, he also created new wines in Portugal and Australia. Cazes has now passed the baton to his son, Jean-Charles.

The following Cazes wines are well worth a try.

Château Lynch-Bages Blanc de Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux 2017, HK$420

At Château Lynch-Bages, in the village of Bages, vineyards are planted on deep gravel over limestone. In 1855, the estate was classified as a fifth growth.Lynch-Bages blanc is a fairly new wine, first introduced in 1990. Made from a blend of 40 per cent sauvignon blanc, 41 per cent semillon and 19 per cent muscadelle. Aged in French oak of which 45 per cent is new.

Passion fruit, grassy notes with honeyed overtones. Full bodied, well-balanced and harmonious with rich fruit intensity and some oak tannins on the finish.

Available from Riepenau

Domaine des Sénéchaux White, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2015, HK$330

Acquired by the Cazes family in 2006, the property dates back to the 14th century. A large part of the vineyard is planted with red grape varieties. The whites represent only nine hectares of the vineyard, with grapes planted on sandy clay with underlying limestone.

Made from a blend of 33 per cent roussanne, 29.5 per cent grenache blanc, 29.5 per cent clairette and 8 per cent bourboulenc.

Exuberant mandarin, kumquat and orange blossom. Balanced acidity, intense ripe fruit and a long finish. Well made, approachable and showing good typicity of a white southern Rhône.

Available from Links Concept

Château Ormes de Pez 2011, Saint-Estèphe 2011, HK$380

The Ormes label refers to the elm trees that no longer exist on the property, and “pez” means peace in the local dialect. The cabernet sauvignon is planted primarily on gravelly soils and the merlot on the cooler sandy clay soils. The vines are on average about 35 years old.

A blend of predominantly cabernet sauvignon, with merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot making up the rest. Aged for 16 months in French barrels, of which 45 per cent are new.

Earthy, black fruit with cigar box hints. Smoky and tight with good fruit intensity and fine tannins.

Available from Watson’s Wine