CHÂTEAU PÉTRUS 2014

2014 Pétrus

GRAPES: Merlot, 100% destemmed, optical sorter
AGEING PERIOD: Blended and placed in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for 18-20 months
PRODUCTION: Average 2,500 cases per year
CELLARING POTENTIAL: 20 years +

Petrus is not actually a ‘chateau’ per se, although it is often referred to as such. Petrus produces only grand vin (the remainder of the production being declassified), and obviously no white.

Although the wines of Pomerol have never been classified, Petrus is widely regarded as the outstanding wine of the appellation by consensus, and leads a duo of Pomerol estates of extreme prices, along with Le Pin, that in the modern era are consistently among the world’s most expensive wines. Mouiex inclined to state that when the Merlot grape is planted on the proper terroir and harvested at its peak it produces a wine that is characterized as voluptuous, generous and distinctive. It just so happens that Petrus rests on 11.5 hectares of the 20-hectare Pomerol Plateau which is composed of a unique, blue clay soil that is 40 million years old.

This unique terroir allows the Merlot of Petrus to age effortlessly for 50 plus years, while some of the greatest vintages demand 20-30 years for them to mature and display their true essence. This is the reason collectors will spend thousands of dollars for a single bottle.

Petrus requires time to develop. Even though it’s produced from 100% Merlot, Petrus is one of the longest-lived Bordeaux wines. The best vintages of Petrus demand 20-30 years before they become fully mature and begin displaying their true essence and showing the reason why extremely wealthy wine lovers pay thousands of dollars for a single bottle of Petrus.

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96/100 – Wine Enthusiast
The wine is a velvet glove in an iron fist. The smooth surface of ripe fruits and rich blackberry flavors, masks the dense tannins that will allow this very great wine to age for many, many years. The acidity and the rich fruit combine with the fine dusty tannins. The wine will surely not be ready to drink before 2027. 4/2017

95/100 – Wine Spectator
This has lush, fleshy layers of blackberry, fig and black currant confiture rumbling through, pushed by notes of charcoal and warm tobacco leaf. Ganache hints fill in on the finish. Bass-driven, with a serious knot of tannins that have yet to stretch out, but the core of fruit is way too serious to doubt. 3/2017

93-95/100 – Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate
The Petrus 2014 was picked from 23 September until 4 October. Delivering 14.5% alcohol, the same as 2009 and 2010, which is being aged in 50% new oak and includes 3% vin de presse, is deceptively uncomplicated on the nose at first, but don’t be fooled. Affording it time to open (whilst videoing Olivier Berrouet) it develops very attractive blackberry, briary, violets and incense aromas that are beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannins. The acidity is very well judged with lightly grippy black fruit, a pleasant salinity surfacing towards the licorice and tar-tinged finish that fans out gradually. It does not have the length of a top tier vintage but as you would expect there is real class here. Perhaps it will be more approachable than other vintages thanks to the fineness of the tannins, but overall, this is a great wine under the guiding hand of Olivier Berrouet even if it is not the greatest Petrus he will ever make. 4/2015

18.5/20 – Jancis Robinson
Mid ruby. Quite a pale rim — absolutely not a dense dark look! Mix of savoury and floral notes. Not exceptionally intense aromatically but very beautiful texture and an intensity of flavour that really builds on the finish. Real burgundian build! Very refined tannins and strong mineral notes on the end. Really quite distinctive. Broad and peacock’s tail. Unlike any other wine in 2014. Juicy and sweet on the end. Long and neat. Aérien. Drink 2022-2040. 4/2015