Petrus 2020

Like many wines, it is aromatically closed, which is normal at this stage. Very fruity, it only develops more complex floral and spicy notes after several minutes of aeration; it starts out especially supple and grows into surprising elegance, while also delivering plenty of substance and depth. A top-class Pétrus with ideal harmony, it can age for a long time yet will already be enjoyable in just a few years.

Delivers a fairly gorgeous beam of ripe, lush, unadulterated raspberry fruit flecked with light anise, apple wood and sweet tobacco hints along the way, but this is driven from start to finish primarily by the fruit. Showing a subtle mineral edge that adds detail on the finish, this has impressive poise for the vintage. Finishes with a burnish leather feel rather than succulence, but that's the vintage's fault in the end. Best from 2026 through 2040.

Wonderfully aromatic, this wine offers ripe tannins that give the appearance of softness. That's deceptive because the wine's structure is massive and concentrated. Velvet black fruits are embedded in the texture, superripe without losing freshness. Drink from 2027.

A seriously impressive Petrus in 2020. Less hedonistic and instantly emotional than 2019, more sultry, almost shy and reserved but with definition, weight, succulence and suppleness that shines through. It has a silky tannic tension and clear power but not heft, only a soft muscular expansion that comes with a grip and chew to the black fruits with medicinal, liquorice edges and mouthwatering acidity. Understated yet utterly captivating, it takes its time to come out of its shell - a little serious right now but at the same time it’s stylish with a bright, lifted finish reminding you of the juicy freshness that’s possible even in such warm vintages. A shining star that will be magnificent in time.

The transparency and complexity in the nose is wonderful, with so much floral character like violets and roses with some fresh spices. Dark berries, too. Sandalwood. It’s medium-bodied but then it just opens and unfolds with incredible depth of fine tannins and great length. It goes on for minutes. It opens like butterfly wings. What a wine. Superb. Drink after 2028.

The 2020 Pétrus is a wine of pure and total sensuality. Silky, creamy tannins wrap around a core of dark red and black fruit. A wine with explosive depth but no hard edges and mind-blowing balance, the 2020 is so alluring, even in the early going. Time in the glass brings out lifted floral top notes that add freshness. What strikes most is the elegance of the tannins. I don't think I have ever tasted a young Pétrus like the 2020. Technical Director Olivier Berrouet gave the 2020 a bit more time on the skins than is normal. Aging was 17-18 months in oak. Let's cut to the chase. The 2020 Pétrus is profoundly great.

Wild blueberry in the fragrance, very fresh and clear. Raspberry, redcurrant, plus an iron mineral undertone. On the palate densely subdued with very fine tannin, integrated alcohol, much underlying creaminess, seamlessly integrated acidity, textured and vivacious, and a fine as well as insistent mineral vein that runs through the wine until the very end, as salty perceptions also arise.

Very intense, pure and layered – fine wood and gentle toast showing blackberry, raspberry, cassis, truffle and meaty notes. Impressive power with great elegance and an immense tannic backbone, very powdery and grainy with a chewy quality, absolutely no hard edges, refreshing and mouth coating with fine dark chocolate praline, black cherry and abundant fruit flavours followed by an extremely long, nuanced and pure finish.

Petrus plays at the very top of the vintage and is a serious, textured and knitted down take on its character. There are big tannins here, and you need to wait for the fleshy and creamy cassis and bilberry fruit to appear. Smoked caramel and cocoa bean add a gourmet edge, and the complexity comes through in the evolution of texture and flavours - the tannins become almost chalky after a few minutes, as the lightness and air underneath the fruit becomes clear. Exceptional, a clever wine that needs times and air and has unquestionable staying power, with a brush of bitter almond giving focus on the finish. 50% new oak, 39hl/h yield, 3.6ph. Harvest September 5 to 18.

The 2020 Petrus is deep garnet-purple in color. It erupts from the glass with a fragrance bomb of fresh black raspberries, preserved plums, wild blueberries, and candied violets, plus suggestions of cinnamon toast, molten licorice, and tilled soil. The rich, dense, full-bodied palate is completely coated in decadent black fruit preserves and exotic spicy flavors, lifted by red berry accents and floral notes, and supported by firm, grainy tannins, finishing long with the mineral sparks coming through. This is an epic.

A masterful bouquet of iris, peonies and wisteria, accompanied by notes of ripe fruit, with that mineral purity so characteristic of Petrus wines, and an exquisite hint of blueberry. Added to this is an exquisite freshness and a hypnotic delicacy… On the palate, a fruit-driven framework of extreme power and precision, with the natural elegance of flowers still in bud, despite clearly present tannins. Its aromas follow you like a black panther all the way through to a long, saline finish.

Clearly, the notion of freshness cannot be tied solely to a place, but also to a method! How else to explain why Petrus 2020 is so fresh, succulent, juicy and fruity. Of course, Petrus’ imposing side is there, yet its ability to show such agility in a vintage like this is astounding. What a crystalline touch, what precision. The choice of harvest date is fundamental, explains Olivier Berrouet. The tannic mass was naturally present, so great care was needed during vinification—especially extreme caution with extraction. The wine displays formidable energy that quite literally galvanises the whole palate and places Petrus in a register of agility and tension, in addition to its powerful build. In the end, it results in a wine with all the elements to defy the decades to come, not just two or three. Even though the wine is dense, tightly knit and powerful, it still highlights its savoury intensity, its juicy character and the very nature of Petrus: precision, freshness and vigour. Aeration only underscores everything the wine already promises, thereby confirming its predictions. It stands among the greatest successes of the vintage. True, this may not come as a surprise, but achieving it is still a performance worth applauding, because each year the counters are reset to zero! One should note that the finish still needs to round out… and that is a very good thing, as the aim is to keep it in the cellar for a while nonetheless!

A lovely, elegant nose—supple, with a certain power expressed with finesse. There is a fine concentration, a fleshy texture and a subtle sunny touch. It is discreetly powdery. Notes of vibrant blackcurrant emerge, and more lightly almost roasted yet fresh red berries, alongside hints of violet, fresh small berries, and touches of blueberry and other fresh flowers. There are hints of cubeb pepper and fresh spices, plus a discreet touch of fresh incense and a graphite note. Gradually, fresh tobacco appears, as does cocoa. The nose opens onto complexity, carried by superb freshness with a melodic feel. The palate is fresh, elegant and delicate, all in roundness, with a certain richness of freshness and creaminess. An airy character accompanies the complexity, with a discreetly tight edge. This is a wine of precision and tension, where nothing sticks out—everything is haute couture. Notes of creamy blackberry and vibrant blackcurrant appear, with lighter touches of mocha and cardamom. Toasted almond combines with a subtle hint of blueberry and vibrant, fresh small blue fruits, along with a delicate touch of mocha and a subtle note of toasted, grilled hazelnuts. Discreet roasted notes accompany supple, elegant, fine tannins with beautiful grain and a subtle chalky edge. The tannins are of very high quality. There is a lovely density with an airy, fresh feel: a complete, harmonious wine. Density and depth come through, perfectly balanced. The persistent finish ends on a subtle chew, with an enveloping yet precise, even incisive edge. It closes with a grilled/cocoa touch on the finish.

As I observed to Olivier Berrouet, it's hardly very original to find a wine critic extolling the virtues of this Pomerol reference point; and yet, whether one likes it or not, there's no denying that the 2020 Pétrus is a brilliant achievement and indeed one of the very finest vintages at this address over the last two decades. Unwinding in the glass with a deep bouquet of dark berries, cherries and cassis mingled with hints of exotic spices, violets and vine smoke, it's full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with huge depth at the core, exquisitely refined tannins and a youthfully reserved, even restrained profile despite its power and size. This serious, classically proportioned Pétrus is a monument in the making.