The 2018 Petrus has retained its opaque purple-black color after bottling, foreshadowing the seemingly frozen-in-time glacial pace at which this wine is proceeding. It opens very reluctantly, requiring considerable air with vigorous swirling and doggedly demands a few hours before it offers glimpses at this slumbering giant of a wine. As it eventually unfurls, it slowly morphs into a powerful, fantastically pure nose of preserved plums, blackberry preserves and blueberry compote, followed by nuances of molten licorice, dark chocolate, black truffles, iron ore and, still later, floral notions of lilacs and rose oil come through.
The full-bodied palate is taut, muscular and oh-so-tightly wound at this stage, revealing peeks at many, many layers of perfectly ripe black and blue fruits, exotic spices and earthy notions for which words simply fail. The texture is at once rock solid and fantastically plush, with impeccably knit freshness, finishing so long you really can't taste or think of anything else for the rest of the day. Here is a heart-stopping titan that puts paid to all those naysayers who contest that perfection in wine cannot exist. It will require a good 8-10 years to hit its stride, then it is very likely to outlive us all, but you will want to make certain you drink this one before you go.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Petrus comes galloping out of the glass with bold, expressive notions of Black Forest cake, blueberry preserves and Christmas pudding with nuances of molten chocolate, Chinese five spice, candied violets, licorice and kirsch plus wafts of roses and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and fantastically concentrated, the palate has compelling freshness and a solid base of wonderfully ripe, velvety tannins, finishing very long and opulent. The aromatics at this youthful stage are atypical for Petrus and quite stunning—this 2017 is a bombshell! Furthermore, it is a unique style for this estate and one avid collectors should seek out!
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Petrus (bottled in mid-July 2017) opens in its own time to reveal crushed black cherries, warm plums, mulberries and cedar chest suggestions with touches of anise, lavender, beef drippings and wild thyme plus a waft of crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with generous, exuberant, wonderfully layered red, black and perfumed blue fruits contrasted beautifully by very ripe, very fine-grained and very firm tannins plus an ethereal line of seamless acid, finishing long and minerally.
The 2014 Petrus was tasted on the same morning as the 2014 Vieux-Château-Certan and though they are built from different blends, their personalities are quite similar. This is a succinct, not powerful, much more refined and discrete bouquet, gradually unfurling and revealing a subtle sea spray/marine element. The palate is again quite discrete at first and unfolds at a glacial pace. It is beautifully balanced with fine tannin, quite linear and structured, gently building towards a finish that has wonderful salinity (continuing that marine theme). Note: I actually returned to taste this several hours later, because it was so closed earlier on and it did finally open, which is atypical for this Pomerol. It is a wonderful Petrus, but one that will deserve bottle age and decanting.
Château Petrus is a renowned wine producer located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century, the estate has become one of the greatest wine producers in the world, producing some of the most sought-after and expensive wines on the market. The vineyards are situated on a plateau of clay and gravel soils, and are planted with predominantly Merlot grapes, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. The winemaking process is traditional, with a focus on minimal intervention, and the resulting wine is rich and full-bodied, with intense aromas of black fruit, truffles, and spice. The estate's flagship wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which is highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts alike, and has the ability to age for decades.
The 2012 Petrus demonstrated a forward, fruit-driven, ripe raspberry and wild strawberry bouquet underneath which lies graphite and forest floor aromas. It seems refined, understated, nonchalant even. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly savory opening, as if there was a tiny drop of Cabernet Franc. The tannins are fine but firm, the red fruit infused with cooked meat, black pepper and sage notes, although I was anticipating a finish armed with more body. That may well develop in time, yet it remains a regal Pomerol that will probably merit a higher score with bottle age, hence the plus-sign against the score.
A dense ruby/purple-tinged color and restrained but intriguing aromas of kirsch, raspberry jam, wood spice, and mulberries are found in this full-bodied Petrus. An undeniable success in 2011, it is rich, layered and pure with light to moderate tannin, but seems slightly less muscular and tannic compared to its stablemate, Trotanoy.
Château Petrus is a renowned wine producer located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century, the estate has become one of the greatest wine producers in the world, producing some of the most sought-after and expensive wines on the market. The vineyards are situated on a plateau of clay and gravel soils, and are planted with predominantly Merlot grapes, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. The winemaking process is traditional, with a focus on minimal intervention, and the resulting wine is rich and full-bodied, with intense aromas of black fruit, truffles, and spice. The estate's flagship wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which is highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts alike, and has the ability to age for decades.
Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Petrus gives up glorious scents of preserved plums, redcurrant jelly, dried rose petals, blackberry compote and mulberries with touches of licorice, Chinese five spice and fragrant earth. Full, rich, plushly textured and oh-so-decadent, it reveals layer upon layer of spice box, black fruit and ferrous notions, finishing long and fragrant.
It is hard to call Petrus a “sleeper of the vintage,” but the 2008 will merit more attention than most consumers would think. Low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare resulted in only 25,000 bottles of this beauty. A wine of great intensity (possibly the most concentrated wine of the vintage), this 100% Merlot boasts a dark purple color as well as a sweet perfume of mocha, caramel, black cherries, black currants, earth and forest floor. Deep, unctuously textured, full-bodied and pure, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and should drink well for 25-30+ years.
Offering pure black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, the inky ruby/purple 2005 Petrus is still very young and unyielding, but super-concentrated, powerful, full-bodied and primordial. It is much more backward than the likes of Lafleur, Trotanoy or Hosanna. Nevertheless, it is super-rich, extracted, beautifully balanced and pure. Forget it for another 10-15 years, and drink it over the following half-century. This may well be among the longest-lived wines of 2005.
The 2006 Petrus now seems to be evolving more slowly than the 2006 Le Pin: the fruit darker with raspberry coulis, mulberry, hints of marmalade and crushed rose petals coming forth. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, gently gripping the mouth and demonstrating admirable weight and complexity. You might almost think there was some Cabernet Franc towards the finish thanks to the subtle peppery notes coming through. It is probably ready to drink now, but the substance here suggests that it will age for another decade and continue to offer pleasure long after.
The 2001 Petrus (2,160 cases produced) exhibits more depth and richness than any other Pomerol I tasted. Its deep saturated ruby/plum/purple color is accompanied by a tight but promising bouquet of vanilla, cherry liqueur, melted licorice, black currants, and notions of truffles and earth. Rich, full-bodied, and surprisingly thick as well as intense, there is plenty of structure underlying the wealth of fruit and extract. Give it 3-6 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following two decades as it promises to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage, not to mention one of the most concentrated.
A prodigious Petrus, this wine has that extra level of intensity and complexity that is monumental. The magic is clearly Petrus, and the 2000 will always be an interesting vintage to compare to another legend in the making, the 1998, or more recently, of course, the 2005, 2008, and 2009. Extremely full-bodied, with great fruit purity, an unmistakable note of underbrush, black truffle, intense black cherries, licorice, and mulberry, the wine seems to show no evidence of oak whatsoever. It has a sumptuous, unctuous texture, plenty of tannin, but also vibrancy and brightness. This is a remarkable wine that seems slightly more structured and massive than the 1998, which comes across as slightly more seamless, as if it were haute couture. This wine needs at least another 5-10 years of cellaring and should age for 50+ years.
The 1998 Petrus is unquestionably a fabulous effort boasting a dense plum/purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of black fruits intermixed with caramel, mocha, and vanilla. Exceptionally pure, super-concentrated, and extremely full-bodied, with admirable underlying acidity as well as sweet tannin, it reveals a superb mid-palate in addition to the luxurious richness for which this great property is known. The finish lasts for 40-45 seconds. Patience will definitely be required.
The 1998 Petrus is unquestionably a fabulous effort boasting a dense plum/purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of black fruits intermixed with caramel, mocha, and vanilla. Exceptionally pure, super-concentrated, and extremely full-bodied, with admirable underlying acidity as well as sweet tannin, it reveals a superb mid-palate in addition to the luxurious richness for which this great property is known. The finish lasts for 40-45 seconds. Patience will definitely be required.
Proprietor Christian Moueix's 1996s have turned out well in the bottle. The 1996 Petrus is a big, monolithic, foursquare wine with an impressively opaque purple color, and sweet berry fruit intermixed with earth, pain grille, and coffee scents. Full-bodied and muscular, with high levels of tannin, and a backward style, this wine (less than 50% of the production was bottled as Petrus) will require patience. It is a mammoth example
It is interesting how this wine continues to evolve. Unquestionably one of the vintage's superstars, the 1995 Petrus is taking on a personality similar to the extraordinarily backward, muscular 1975. This is not a Petrus that can be approached in its youth (i.e., the perfect duo of 1989 and 1990). The wine exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color, followed by a knock-out nose of pain grille, jammy black fruits, and roasted coffee. On the palate, it possesses teeth-staining extract levels, massive body, and rich, sweet black fruits buttressed by powerful, noticeable tannin. A formidably endowed wine with layers of extract, this is a huge, tannic, monstrous-sized Petrus that will require a minimum of 10 years of cellaring. Forget all the nonsense about Merlot producing sweet, soft, ready to drink wines, because low yielding, old Merlot vines made in the way of Petrus and other top Pomerols frequently possess as much aging potential as any great Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine in the world.
Château Petrus is a renowned wine producer located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century, the estate has become one of the greatest wine producers in the world, producing some of the most sought-after and expensive wines on the market. The vineyards are situated on a plateau of clay and gravel soils, and are planted with predominantly Merlot grapes, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. The winemaking process is traditional, with a focus on minimal intervention, and the resulting wine is rich and full-bodied, with intense aromas of black fruit, truffles, and spice. The estate's flagship wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which is highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts alike, and has the ability to age for decades.
Château Petrus is a renowned wine producer located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century, the estate has become one of the greatest wine producers in the world, producing some of the most sought-after and expensive wines on the market. The vineyards are situated on a plateau of clay and gravel soils, and are planted with predominantly Merlot grapes, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. The winemaking process is traditional, with a focus on minimal intervention, and the resulting wine is rich and full-bodied, with intense aromas of black fruit, truffles, and spice. The estate's flagship wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which is highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts alike, and has the ability to age for decades.
This is the kind of wine that I bought at a high price, and every bottle I have tasted from a six-bottle allocation has been increasingly disappointing. The wine still has its admirers, particularly Michael Broadbent, who continues to find it virtually perfect. Either we have different palates or we are tasting different wine, but this wine now has a medium ruby colour with considerable amber at the edge. The nose smells like fresh vegetable market, with spice box, celery seed, fennel all there, along with a hint of tobacco and Provencal herbs. There is sweet cherry fruit there, but the weediness dominates everything. In the mouth, the wine is light, medium-bodied, and fading. This is a wine to taste with the label clearly in front of you, to think of other Petrus vintages as opposed to what is in the 1985.
Château Petrus is a renowned wine producer located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century, the estate has become one of the greatest wine producers in the world, producing some of the most sought-after and expensive wines on the market. The vineyards are situated on a plateau of clay and gravel soils, and are planted with predominantly Merlot grapes, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. The winemaking process is traditional, with a focus on minimal intervention, and the resulting wine is rich and full-bodied, with intense aromas of black fruit, truffles, and spice. The estate's flagship wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which is highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts alike, and has the ability to age for decades.
Offering up aromas of sweet plums, fruitcake, warm spices, smoke, caramel and cedar, the 1982 Pétrus is medium to full-bodied, sweet and fleshy, built around powdery tannins that assert themselves on the somewhat firm finish. Served blind next to Trotanoy and Lafleur, Pétrus exhibits less sensuality than the former and less concentration and character than the latter, landing in third place. It remains a very attractive wine, but the great Pétrus of the decade of the 1980s is clearly not the 1982 but rather the monumental 1989.
Château Petrus is a renowned wine producer located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century, the estate has become one of the greatest wine producers in the world, producing some of the most sought-after and expensive wines on the market. The vineyards are situated on a plateau of clay and gravel soils, and are planted with predominantly Merlot grapes, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. The winemaking process is traditional, with a focus on minimal intervention, and the resulting wine is rich and full-bodied, with intense aromas of black fruit, truffles, and spice. The estate's flagship wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which is highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts alike, and has the ability to age for decades.
This wine has been seemingly fully mature since the mid- to late seventies. It is a seductive, opulent vintage for Petrus. The color now is a dark garnet with considerable amber at the rim. The incredible nose of Christmas fruitcake intermixed with mocha, jammy kirsch, and black currants is followed by a silky textured, full-bodied, very opulent wine that is still totally intact. The tannins have totally dissipated, and the wine is an unctuous, seductive Petrus that is certainly one of the vintages that is most delicious and compelling. A sensational wine and probably the wine of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: Now-2011. Last tasted, 11/02.
This dark garnet-coloured wine shows considerable amber at the edge. I have always had a tenancy to taste this side by side with the 1971, and it has been fascinating how the 1971 was fully mature at a much younger age yet continued to hold onto life without losing any of its seductive fruit and intensity.
The 1970 started off life more tannic, backward, massive, but needing considerable time, and it has now hit full stride. It is a profound Petrus, and certainly one of the great Petrus’ of the last half century. The wine has a huge nose of cedar, caramel, vanilla, tobacco, fruitcake, and liquorice-infused black cherry jam. It is unctuously textured and very full-bodied, with extraordinary sweetness and glycerine, and a layered, viscous finish. This wine should continue to drink well for at least another 20 years.
Château Petrus is a renowned wine producer located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century, the estate has become one of the greatest wine producers in the world, producing some of the most sought-after and expensive wines on the market. The vineyards are situated on a plateau of clay and gravel soils, and are planted with predominantly Merlot grapes, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. The winemaking process is traditional, with a focus on minimal intervention, and the resulting wine is rich and full-bodied, with intense aromas of black fruit, truffles, and spice. The estate's flagship wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which is highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts alike, and has the ability to age for decades.
This is an outstanding older wine. Last tasted 1989.
