Wine Score
97 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
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.” (05/11) 97 points Wine Enthusiast Magazine: “Gorgeous, smooth wine, perhaps even more intense than in past vintages. The tannins are totally enveloped by the ripe plum and damson fruits. Complex, powerful, layered and opulent, this is a wine for the long term.” (04/11) 93 points Wine Spectator: “This has texture and range that’s a step up from the pack, with a gorgeous, silky feel to the ripe but restrained cherry, raspberry and damson plum notes that are layered with hints of black tea, incense and mineral. The long finish is more about poise than power. Lovely. Drink now through 2020.
During the 19th century, the domaine belonged to the Arnaud family. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Arnauds founded the “Societe Civile du Chateau Petrus”, the shares of which Madame Loubat began to acquire in 1925. By the end of World War II, Madame Loubat was the sole proprietor of Chateau Petrus. At this time the establishment of Jean-Pierre- Moueix, a company of wine merchants from Libourne, had the monopoly for its distribution. In 1961, Chateau Petrus went to Madame Loubats nephew and niece: Madame Lacoste and Monsieur Lignac. Since then, Jean-Pierre Moueix has bought Monsieur Lignac’s shares.
Under the direction of Jean-Pierre’s son, Christian, and their oenologist, Jean Claude Berrouet, Petrus receives the care of a pampered child. The grapes are picked only in the afternoon, when the morning dew has evaporated, so as not to risk even the slightest dilution of quality. Vinification and aging: The composition of the topsoil and the subsoil at Petrus is almost all clay (whereas in adjacent properties the soil is a mixture of gravel-sand or clay-sand). Merlot flourishes in this soil and for this reason, Petrus’ vineyard is planted with 95% Merlot. The vines are unusually old and are only replanted after they reach 70 years of age. Replanting takes place plot by plot, instead of vine by vine, in order to guarantee that the average age of vines is maintained at a high level. Fermented in cement vats, the wine is aged in 100% new oak barrels for 22-28 months. Clarified with 5 fresh egg whites per barrel. Never filtered for fear of removing some of its remarkable richness.
Grape Variety
Bordeaux Blend
A Bordeaux Blend is a blended red wine that contains only those varieties that are authorized for use in the red wines of the Bordeaux region of France. Bordeaux is the most famous and highly coveted wine blend in the world. Like many wines with a long history, there’s a lot to learn, so we’re here to just cover the basics.
- Red Bordeaux blend is primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, with smaller portions of Malbec and Petit Verdot.
- White Bordeaux blend is primarily made of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, with a splash of Muscadelle in the mix
While there are both red and white Bordeauxs, the name Bordeaux is primarily associated with the red wine blend. Red Bordeaux is a red wine that is always made from blending Cabernet Sauvignon wine and Merlot wine together, though the proportion of each depends on the location of the winery that made the wine.
- Left bank blends : tend to be higher in tannins, alcohol and acidity. They are powerful, rich wines that are said to age a bit better than wines from the Right Bank.
- Right bank blends : tend to be softer, less tannic and lower in alcohol and acidity. Because Merlot is the dominant grape, they are much more juicy and usually ready to be drunk much earlier than Left Bank Bordeauxs, and they’re often less expensive.
Pomerol Wine
Tiny Pomerol is possibly the most famous of all Bordeaux’s appellations and it’s hedonistic wines command a high price. Merlot dominates the vineyard to the virtual exclusion of other varieties relishing Pomerol’s special clay soils to produce superb inimitable wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon, whose wine has to live through a tannic youth. In Pomerol it is Merlot secondary in the Medoc, that is the leading vine. Great growths have about 70-80% Merlot with perhaps 20% Cabernet Franc known here as Bouchet. The greatest Pomerol, Petrus is almost exclusively Merlot growing in almost pure clay – with astonishing results.
Even the best Pomerol has produced all it’s perfume and achieved it’s dazzling finesse within a dozen years or so and many are already attractive at five years old.
When to drink – You can enjoy the headlong rush of fruit when the wine is very young – the tannins tend to be supple enough not to spoil the party – but it’s worth holding on for five years, ten for a top bottle before abandoning yourself to the carnival whirl of flavours. Only really special wines stay the course beyond 15 years.
Best Vintages of Pomerol : 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1985, 1982, 1975, 1970, 1964, 1961, 1959, 1955, 1953, 1952, 1950, 1949, 1948, 1947 and 1945
Pomerol Wine Style
It’s richer than any dry red wine has a right to be sometimes buttery, sometimes creamy with honeyed spices too. Often the fruit is plummy but there’s blackcurrant in there too along with raisins, chocolate, roasted nuts and the disturbing perfume of truffles with mint to freshen it up.
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