Petrus 2021

96–98. Barrel Sample. This very aromatic floral wine has already a great sense of presence. The generous, never hard, tannins are cushioned gracefully in the velvet texture. It is very complete—ripe tannins and beautiful juicy fruits bring lightness to the wine as well as freshness at the end.

A luminous, compelling and memorable Petrus, one of the absolute standouts in 2021. Expressions of dark crimson berries, damson, plums, raspberries, redcurrant fruit, blackcurrant, touches of blood orange zest, cherry perfume and pink flowers on the nose - I could go on..! The aromatic intensity is exceptional and just so beguiling. This has such a seamless continuation of flavours and aromas from start to finish - a consistency, all flowing gracefully - neat, clear and pure. You're not going to find the most rich, dense or exuberant of wines here, that's obvious given the vintage conditions, but this is such an excellent wine from Olivier Berrouet working with the vintage. There is a taffeta quality to the fine and layered tannins that coat the mouth and give an aerial sensation. Juicy and succulent, the acidity comprises part of the structure and carries the expression of the red berry and stone fruit and salty minerality that appears on the finish. Structured with backbone, this is confident in its intensity and momentum but still so refined and finessed. Sublime in its delicacy and grace giving a gentle energy.

Refined, subtle and elegant, with aromas of violets, nutmeg, sandalwood, bark and plums that follow through to a medium body with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Goes on and on. Most impressive are the seamless texture and solid center palate. Lightly chalky at the end. Best after 2028.

The 2021 Petrus, which was bottled last June, as usual takes a few swirls of the glass to really settle into its groove. Olivier Berrouet said that he did not try to push this wine, decreasing the percentage of new oak and shortening the time in barrel by a couple of months. It eventually offers scents of black cherries, bilberry, light incense and hints of lavender that come through with aeration, all with very fine definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, very well-balanced, fresh and more saline than recent vintages. Silky-smooth toward the finish, this is a classically styled Petrusthat has a glorious future ahead. 13.2% alcohol.

Quite floral in nature, initially you dig into the lilacs, violets, truffles, chocolate, plums, cherries, mint leaf, spice, strawberry and black raspberries on the complex nose. This is an elegant, refined Petrus focused on its purity, balance, length and energy, instead of concentration. Reserved, the wine builds slowly on the mid-palate, starting off discreetly, finishing with its red fruits and a touch of salinity in the endnote. Its length sneaks up on you. The success of the vintage is due in large part to waiting for the right moment to pick, which in 2021, with their deep, blue clay, made it necessary to harvest from September 30 - October 9. 13.3% ABV, pH 3.55. Yields are 33 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2055. 95-97

Dark ruby red with purple reflections on the narrow rim. Noble wood spices especially vanilla, fine cherries, a touch of truffle. Juicy and complex, red berry fruit elegantly carried by great freshness, luscious mid-palate texture, fine silky tannins, shows great length, salty, but typical of its terroir, very pure and clear, fine extract sweetness on the finish.

An elegant, civilized expression of this terroir, the 2021 Château Petrus is, as always, 100% Merlot and it's medium to full-bodied, with an almost bloody edge to its ripe red and black fruits as well as notes of tobacco, sappy flowers, and iron. With beautiful mid-palate depth, fine tannins, and a layered, elegant mouthfeel that has solid underlying structure, it's going to be ready to go with just 4-6 years of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following two decades.

This steals up on you, with rose petals, raspberry leaf and white truffle aromatics. Expect a more linear wine than the polar opposite 2022 vintage of Petrus, and enjoy the delicate floral character. As it opens some of the characteristic density of Petrus arrives, with richer black cherry, damson, cocoa bean, cloves and grilled spice. Great balance and delicacy, will age 15 to 20 years easily. The nature of the vintage has been respected, and it's a hard one to score to be honest, because there is a lot to love here, but it is atypical of Petrus for collectors. Has definitely found its character over ageing, and is full of pleasure but this is a 94 Petrus. Might well be a 96 for pretty much any other wine, but if you are a regular Petrus drinker, you should expect an earlier drinking version. Harvest September 30 to October 5, 33hl/h yield. Shortened the time in barrel for ageing but kept at 50% new oak.

The 2021 Petrus is medium to deep purple-black in color. After a swirl or two, notes of raspberry preserves, kirsch, and rose oil prance out of the glass, opening out to an undercurrent of fragrant soil, mossy tree bark, and graphite, with a waft of iron ore and an emerging anise hint. The medium-bodied palate vibrates with energy-charged red and black fruits, framed by very fine-grained tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing on a lingering ferrous note. This must be one of the most elegant, graceful vintages of Petrus ever!

As has been the case since 2011, Pétrus is 100% Merlot (the Cabernet Franc vines were uprooted after the 2010 harvest). On the palate, one is struck by the purity of the fruit and the saline notes on the finish. There is plenty of delicious indulgence in this very seductive wine, with sweetness perfectly measured for a great Pomerol. It is set to undergo 18 to 19 months of ageing, with 55% new oak.

The bouquet defies any aromatic description. It rises to the nostrils, light as a feather, almost imperceptible, like the scent of tiny flower petals dropped during a summer storm, mingling with the smell of warm, wet pavement. Like an old cedar box in which traces of burnt incense remain. Incredibly creamy on the palate, with an intensity of complex, refined flavors that burst onto the palate, one after another. The crystalline, caressing texture of the tannins is exquisite, giving the wine an ethereal length that seems to go on and on, with a finish of freshly ground coffee.

Right from the start, Petrus stands out for its finesse, its many nuances and its charm. Everything is about precision, with remarkable accuracy and an evident freshness that goes straight to the point, putting the fruit character front and center. Suave and elegant, the wine gradually reveals itself. What others achieve on the nose, Petrus delivers on the palate, in a delicate, precise, refined and yet powerful way. A subtle tannic austerity reinforces the finish and enhances the aromatic expression. A Petrus that surprises, not for its quality, but for its accessibility and expressive character. Radiant with serenity, freshness and straightness, it gains in sweetness with aeration. A great wine in a challenging context, yet with remarkable potential.

The nose is fruity, elegant and beautifully complex, showing great control. It offers a refined, distinguished texture, a lovely layered dimension, a touch of freshness, aromatic depth and a delicate freshness-driven richness. A fine, complete bouquet! It reveals notes of creamy boysenberry, ripe/fresh small black fruits and, more lightly, violet, along with an elegant minerality paired with subtle touches of graphite, fleshy/crushed strawberry, plus a delicate hint of blueberry, star anise and a very discreet touch of sweet spices. Beautiful harmony! A very subtle hint of caramelisation, Bourbon vanilla (in the background) and delicate touches of green cardamom. The palate is nicely fresh, elegant and distinguished, all finesse, offering fine definition/precision, an airy feel within its subtle, refined richness, along with finesse and freshness, a lovely multi-layered character, an elongated profile and an elegant minerality. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of fresh/juicy boysenberry, fresh/juicy small black fruits and, more lightly, graphite, alongside delicate hints of juicy/fresh raspberry, small red fruits, touches of toast and nutmeg, as well as subtle notes of star anise, sweet blond tobacco and a delicate hint of sweet/toasted hazelnut. A subtle touch of crunchy blueberry lingers on the finish. A lovely, long finish. The tannins are elegant, delicate and savoury. A subtle chew, along with fine salinity and savouriness, and a discreet, pleasant (and delicate) bitterness on the finish. A beautiful wine of finesse, complexity, depth and harmony. Classic in its elegance, purity and control.

Dark, deep, beautiful colour. Highly aromatic nose, refined, fruity, pure and delicately creamy. A touch of almond. Complex when the glass is swirled. Full on the attack, very aromatic through the mid-palate, with a fine, silky texture that glides across the palate; the wine develops with savoury intensity, on a supple, substantial body that builds in power on the finish. Excellent persistence. Simply impossible to spit, with the emergence of a floral, liquorice note. Pure class!

From barrel, the 2021 Pétrus was decidedly muscular and introverted, but élevage has certainly tamed it, delivering a result that's much more sensual and charming than I could have imagined. Offering up aromas of ripe cherries, mulberries, rose petals, licorice and violets, it's full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a suave, seamless, lively profile and a bright, perfumed finish. This wine, which was racked out of barrel two months earlier than usual, will offer an unusually broad drinking window. In style, it reminds me somewhat of the estate's 2011.