2006 Petrus, Pomerol

Petrus, Pomerol

Colour: Red

Vintage: 2006

Region: Bordeaux, Pomerol

Petrus is the undoubted, undisputed heavyweight hero of Bordeaux, occupying the very highest echelon of the global wine market alongside DRC and Henri Jayer. Combining Burgundian production levels with the ultimate in Pomerol style, Petrus is a rare beast, appealing to new and old alike; it is both first in line for every wealthy new collector’s cellar whilst also occupying a prized place in the collections of the great connoisseurs of the wine world. The estate consists of 11.5 hectares lying at the heart of the Pomerol appellation, producing approximately 30,000 bottles per year. Petrus wine is produced on the famed ‘plateau’ in the eastern part of Pomerol where the vineyard enjoys excellent drainage and thick clay soil. Under winemaker Olivier Berrouet the quality of Petrus has maintained the highest imaginable level and with production being much lower than the first growths of the left bank, and yields as low as possible, Petrus is rarer and thus invariably more expensive.

Tasting Notes and Scores

96 DR

Terrific texture, weight and heft on both the nose and the attack. A flush of powerful tannic grip is balanced by stunning acidity and bright silken fruit. Overall the structure is compellingly insistent, still dancing around the palate, a flourishing, featherweight beauty that demands your attention. Magisterially good. Drinking Window: 2016 - 2035
Tasted by: Jane Anson Part of Bordeaux 2006: Which wines have aged well?

Decanter

96 NM

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Petrus now seems to be evolving more slowly than the 2006 Le Pin: the fruit darker with raspberry coulis, mulberry, hints of marmalade and crushed rose petals coming forth. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, gently gripping the mouth and demonstrating admirable weight and complexity. You might almost think there was some Cabernet Franc towards the finish thanks to the subtle peppery notes coming through. It is probably ready to drink now, but the substance here suggests that it will age for another decade and continue to offer pleasure long after. Tasted January 2016.
– eRobertParker.com, May 2016

Neal Martin

942 WL

Quality 881 | Brand 997 | Economics 981 | buzz brand
Quality: Predicted life of 14 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group for the 2006 vintage, which averages 8 years Brand: #3 Most sought after wine globally, with 69,502 searches on Wine-Searcher per month Economics: More traded at auction than its peers, its top 5 vintages having seen 1,584 75cl equivalent bottles traded in the past year Production: Higher yields than its peer group average of 35 hl/ha

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Wine Lister

93+ WI

Bright medium ruby. Reticent but complex nose opened with air to display an almost roasted ripeness to the aromas of dark berries and licorice. Sweet, deep and lush, showing brooding dark berry and black cherry fruit sexed up by an exotic chocolate liqueur quality. A hugely rich but rather inscrutable wine. This was much deeper in pitch than the Trotanoy I tasted next to it, and missing that wine's ineffable mineral high notes, inner-mouth perfume and impression of harmoniousness. Is this simply too young to assess today? Time will tell.

Wine Independent

93+ RP

Currently closed and backward, this wine seems to share a more similar character to Trotanoy than in any recent vintages I recall. Powerful, structured, masculine, but a long-term proposition, this dark ruby/purple-colored wine displays notes of caramelized, sweet black cherries and wild berry fruit with plenty of spice, earth, and a hint of herbaceousness. The wine has very high tannins, impressive concentration, but that mouth-searing level of tannin. This is one Petrus that should probably be forgotten for at least 8-10 years and drunk over the following two to three decades. I always find it ironic that Petrus, which is virtually 100% Merlot, is more backward than the first growths of Medoc, which are Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #181, Feb 2009)

Wine Advocate

Petrus, Pomerol