This is a forgotten Pétrus. Good dark color, with lovely plum and light raspberry aromas. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a fresh, fruity finish. A beauty. Fresh and long. Slightly better than when I tasted it a few years back.--Pétrus non-blind vertical. James Suckling

Deep red-ruby. Cherry, redcurrant, raspberry, toffee, minerals and iron filings on the nose. Opulent and deep, with a silky, mouthfilling texture and lovely caramel sweetness. Boasts outstanding length for the vintage. Suave and harmonious.

The backward 1997 (2,300 cases produced) needs 3-4 years of cellaring. The dense plum/ruby/purple color is accompanied by a closed bouquet of mocha, dried tomato skin, and black fruits. In the mouth, it is one of the most muscular 1997s, exhibiting outstanding concentration, length, intensity, and depth, copious tannin, and a fine mouth-feel. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.

The 1997 Petrtus may ultimately turn out to be a superior wine, but somewhat of an insider's secret. The color is a saturated ruby/purple. The wine offers up copious quantities of sweet coffee, mocha, and blackberry fruit intermixed with cherry and subtle new oak notes. This medium to full-bodied wine is not a blockbuster, but gorgeously rich, with layers of glycerin, extract, and richness coating the palate. Dense and ripe, with moderate tannin in the surprisingly long finish, it should be at its peak between 2007-2025.