Château Graves de Pez
| Vigneron | Maxime Saint Martin |
| Location | St Estèphe (Gironde) |
| Size of Domaine | 3 ha |
| Terroir | Atlantic climate. Gravel and clay-limestone soils. 30-40m altitude. |
| Viticulture | Lutte raisonnée |
| View Château Graves de Pez wines ↓ |
Maxime St Martin was just 21 when he bought this 3ha estate from his uncle (2008), making him the youngest vigneron in the appellation by quite some years.
Originally from Cognac his grandparents moved to the Médoc in 1960 to manage the Tesseron family’s Château Lafon-Rochet, and his parents currently own the excellent cru artisan property Château Vieux Gabarey in Lamarque. Whilst working at Lafon-Rochet his grandparents purchased the tiny parcels that comprise Graves de Pez, despite a strong desire to make their own wine they were too busy with their day job and resorted to selling the grapes to the co-op. Maxime finally made the family’s dream a reality when in 2009 he produced his first vintage at the property.
Renowned Médoc consultant Eric Boissenot now follows him, and Graves de Pez attained the Cru Artisan classification when it was revised in 2018. Maxime recently became the youngest (29yo) President of the 36 strong Crus Artisans syndicate.
The parcel of 45yo vines is planted over a limestone bedrock on the classic deep gravels of the St Estèphe appellation, and typically produce structured wines with extremely fine tannins.
Château Graves de Pez Wines
SAINT-ESTÈPHE 2018
68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot (13.5% alc.)
Made by Maxime St-Martin who, in his late twenties, is the youngest vigneron in the appellation. This is a 3ha estate where the 45yo vines are planted in gravelly soils overlying limestone clay. Aged in 25% new to 3yo barrels, this wine has a bright ruby colour, an aromatic richness characterised by red fruit and spices, good intensity of fruit on the palate, a suppleness of texture and fine well integrated tannins. For drinking now to 2030.