Quality 983 | Brand 997 | Economics 953 | buzz brand, investment staple
Quality: Predicted life of 29 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group for the 2008 vintage, which averages 11 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

The 2008 is destined to be one of the greatest Petrus’s ever made, ranking alongside the 1989, 1990, 1998, and 2000, and even eclipsing the 2005. An inky/red/purple color accompanies an unevolved, but promising nose of sweet red and black fruits intermixed with hints of earth, spice box, and caramel. It possesses a formidable personality of great intensity, awesome texture, amazingly well-integrated sweet tannin, and a freshness and precision that are hallmarks of this vintage. Given the tiny production, there will not be much of this sensational wine. Like most recent Petrus vintages, a decade of patience will be required despite the sweetness of the tannin. It should evolve for at least 50 years. Like the other top Moueix Pomerol properties, especially such top terroirs as Trotanoy, La Fleur Petrus, Hosanna, and La Providence, yields at Petrus were 28 hectoliters per hectare. This vineyard was harvested much like the proprietors of Yquem pick grapes, waiting for perfect maturity and selecting grape bunches as opposed to sending a team in and harvesting until the entire vineyard is picked. Petrus was harvested on six different days, September 29, October 1, 4, 7, 10, and 12.

It is hard to call Petrus a “sleeper of the vintage,” but the 2008 will merit more attention than most consumers would think. Low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare resulted in only 25,000 bottles of this beauty. A wine of great intensity (possibly the most concentrated wine of the vintage), this 100% Merlot boasts a dark purple color as well as a sweet perfume of mocha, caramel, black cherries, black currants, earth and forest floor. Deep, unctuously textured, full-bodied and pure, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and should drink well for 25-30+ years.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #194, May 2011)

It has been about 5 years since I lasted this and time has been good to this wine. Not quite as concentrated as I had hoped, still, the spring flowers, violets, earth, spice, licorice, plum, and cherry nose get your attention. Medium/full-bodied, elegant, soft, refined, and vibrant, the ripe, sweet plums, cherries, dark cocoa, and earthy characteristics shine through in the finish. This is only now coming alive, so it should improve and offer pleasure for at least another 2 decades. Tasted Oct 2021

The 2008 Pétrus has a classic Pomerol nose, perhaps darker fruit than other vintages, blackberry and briary, a touch of truffle and minerals. I love the definition here, the cool restraint. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a fine bead of acidity, chalky and tensile with moderate depth. There is a sense of composure, maybe even conservatism attached to this Pétrus that sports a mineral-driven and (at least for this Pomerol) almost austere finish compared to the 2009 or 2010. But it is a lovely wine that is only just beginning to open. Haunting. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.)

– vinous.com, Feb 2018

Tight and firm, yet with incredibly embracing tannins that are still in their early phase of evolution, even though it is 100% Merlot. It's a trick that basically nobody else in Pomerol can pull off to quite this extent. Some liquorice kicks through, along with dark plum and blackberry fruits, touches of white pepper and coffee bean. Extremely enjoyable and still extremely young. Drinking Window 2020 - 2038
Tasted by Jane Anson (at BI, London, 01 Jan 2018)
Part of Petrus: producer profile plus top wines tasted

Deep ruby-purple. Captivating aromas of blackberry, black cherry, flowers, licorice and Oriental spices are lifted by hints of white pepper and soy sauce. Rich and concentrated yet suave on entry, then sweet but with outstanding grip in the middle, with harmonious acidity providing terrific lift and definition to the multifaceted, opulent flavors of dark berries, mocha, iron and spices. This massive, exotic wine coats the entire palate without conveying any impression of weight; its remarkably smooth finish lasts for minutes. One of the top three wines of the vintage, and a remarkable Petrus.

Medium-deep ruby. Exotic, perfumed aromas of dark cherry, spicy plum, soy sauce and Oriental spices. Full and voluptuous on the palate, this boasts exceptionally ripe, decadent red cherry flavors lifted by soy sauce and cinnamon nuances. Very long and silky, with unbelievably fine-grained tannins. With its texture of liquid velvet, this should make a memorable Petrus. Le Pin.