Cru Artisan Saint‑Estèphe from Maxime Saint‑Martin, Cabernet‑led and aged 12 months in barrique (30% new); the 2020 shows supple red‑fruited, gently spiced Bordeaux elegance.
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
Notes on the Producer
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.
