Petrus 1985 & 1996
Petrus. Perhaps no other single word in the world of wine conjures up so much allure, mystique, reverence and luxury. A pure Merlot wine hailing from blue clay soils on the eastern side of the Pomerol appellation in the southwest of France, this unclassified gem consistently reaches higher prices than Bordeaux’s First Growths from across the river. While the estate can trace its history to at least 1837, it flew relatively under the radar until around the 20th century. Madame Loubat, who became the sole owner in 1945, felt that the estate was truly special, and her efforts were instrumental in establishing Petrus on the world stage. She also appointed Jean-Pierre Moueix as the exclusive agent; he and his sons Jean-François and Christian were key in building the estate’s modern reputation. The Moueix family became majority owners here in 1969. In 2018, they were joined by American-Colombian Alejandro Santo Domingo, who purchased a 20% stake. The estate is run today by winemaker Olivier Berrouet, previously of neighbouring Chateau Cheval Blanc. Olivier joined in 2008, taking over from his father, Jean-Claude, who had produced 44 vintages of Petrus in his time.
1996 Petrus
The 1996 Petrus from the esteemed Château Petrus in Bordeaux's illustrious Pomerol region stands tall as a testament to a vintage that persevered through challenging weather conditions. This was a year that began with trepidation, dominated by late winter frosts and a temperamental spring. Yet, as the season advanced, a dry and sunny late summer provided a benevolent window for ripening the merlot grapes to their quintessential best.
Robert M. Parker Jr. - "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." Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035.
1985 Petrus
Petrus is often considered the pinnacle of the Pomerol appellation and is undoubtedly one of the most revered wines in the world. The style of Petrus is unique and in the best vintages it often achieves levels of aromatic complexity, richness and silky texture that others simply cannot. This is a perfectly mature wine from the acclaimed 1985 vintage, which was a particularly fine year for Merlot and the wines from Pomerol.
Jancis Robinson - "Dark vibrant blackish ruby. Heady and immediately glamorous nose. Straight from the magnum a bit austere though with no shortage of density. Briary. Not as luscious and sweet and many Petrus vintages are but utterly in character for E P-R. I suspect he would have approved of this rather Medocain rendition. Impressive on the finish. Needs to open out a bit. Two hours later from the decanter: Gloriously rich and expansive and much more typically Petrus. A very rewarding Pomerol with a combination of sweetness and lifted leafiness. Not the most opulent vintage but extremely satisfying. Note the alcohol level."
