Chateau Petrus 2014

JAMES SUCKLING: "A wine evincing true enlightenment. It’s floral on the nose and also shows blackberries, stones, minerals and cedar. Full-bodied, yet its so fine-grained and tight. So, so long. It builds like a waterfall on the finish. The tannins are powerful yet superbly integrated and harmonious. Needs four to five years in bottle. Drink in 2023."

FALSTAFF: "Gute Frischfrucht. Brombeere. Herzkirsche. Sandelholz. Geschmeidig, ölig, auf druckvolle Weise seidig, makellos reifes Tannin, guter Nerv, leichte Süßreflexe, lange und homogen anhaltend, sehr feine Materie, aber in seiner nahtlos runden Fülle auch (post-)modern. Sehr viel Alkohol: 14,5 Prozent. Unterm Strich beeindruckend in der Art, wie der Reichtum in Finesse überführt wird."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The wine is a velvet glove in an iron fist. The smooth surface of ripe fruits and rich blackberry flavors, masks the dense tannins that will allow this very great wine to age for many, many years. The acidity and the rich fruit combine with the fine dusty tannins. The wine will surely not be ready to drink before 2027."

DECANTER: "Former winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet likens the growing season to 1978. But 60hl/ha then; 30hl/ha today. Classical and fine with the Merlot providing a Cabernet-like presentation of tannin. Very natural and unforced. Lovely texture and fruit. Persistent finish."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Selten hatte ich bei einem Pétrus so viele florale Noten zu Beginn, die Beerenkonturen sind gemischt mit Johannis- und Maulbeeren, die zarte Süsse im Hintergrund erinnert an kalten Hagebuttentee und einen Hauch Grenadine, trotzdem bleibt das Nasenbild wenig kommunikativ. Ich nahm die ganze Degustationsration von etwa einem halben Deziliter in den Mund und behielt es so lange wie möglich. Zuerst kam die Süsse von der Mitte der Zunge, dann die recht feinen Tannine zwischen Zunge und seitlichem Rachenraum, die Fleischrationen kann man als mittel, aber elegant bezeichnen. Im Finale zogen die Gerbstoffe an und wurden leicht sehnig. Dafür bekamen die roten Fruchtkomponenten dann doch noch einen Cassisschimmer. Ein recht strenger Pétrus mit dem man leider auch etwas streng sein muss. Hat mich an die Jahrgänge 1996 und 2006 erinnert. In einer leicht feineren Form, aber mit derselben Rasse. Er war sehr schwer einzuschätzen und da war ich offensichtlich nicht der Einzige."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This has a fleshy feel and a solid core of dark plum, fig and blackberry compote flavors. A strong charcoal spine adds texture on the finish, while black tea, menthol, bay and warm stone notes cruise through for added range. Has heft and will need some time. Best from 2020 through 2035. 2,917 cases made."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2014 Petrus was tasted on the same morning as the 2014 Vieux-Château-Certan and though they are built from different blends, their personalities are quite similar. This is a succinct, not powerful, much more refined and discrete bouquet, gradually unfurling and revealing a subtle sea spray/marine element. The palate is again quite discrete at first and unfolds at a glacial pace. It is beautifully balanced with fine tannin, quite linear and structured, gently building towards a finish that has wonderful salinity (continuing that marine theme). Note: I actually returned to taste this several hours later, because it was so closed earlier on and it did finally open, which is atypical for this Pomerol. It is a wonderful Petrus, but one that will deserve bottle age and decanting."

JEB DUNNUCK: "While not up to the level of the 2015, the 2014 La Fleur Petrus is still a beautiful, elegant, and nuanced wine that’s well worth your money. Exotic flowers, perfumed red fruits, candied orange, spice, and loads of tobacco, and damp earth notes emerge from this complex Pomerol and it’s medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant, perfectly balanced, and pure. It shows more and more floral nuances with time in the glass and while it’s not a blockbuster, it’s a wine of finesse and elegance that has fabulous intensity. It’s a beautiful 2014 to drink over the coming 20+ years."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Floral notes with black raspberries, licorice, chocolate and cherry liqueur, this wine has velvety tannins, silky textures, freshness and sweet, dark fruits that linger on into the night."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Some richness at last and great inky pleasure as well as the (ahem) ‘freshness’. This is thoroughly pleasing wine with graphite notes of Cabernet Franc."