Chateau Petrus 2015

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "When I asked winemaker Olivier Berrouet about his greatest challenges in 2015, he replied, “Our biggest challenge is to avoid all the temptations you can have in the vineyard and in the cellar. You can go too far. With our job, if you go too far, you can’t go back. Little steps are best.” His comments eloquently explain the immense pressure of handling a seemingly pressure-less vintage like 2015 in Pomerol. But, with the devil in all the many details that are involved in the pursuit of wine perfection, if anyone has that devil by the horns, it is this incredibly talented young winemaker."

JAMES SUCKLING: "The aromas to this are a reference for Pomerol with truffles, black olives, black licorice and dark fruit. Even brown sugar. Full-bodied, layered and multi-dimensional. Chocolate underlines the character above. The perfect tannin texture, length and balance make you think you're dreaming. All about harmony and beauty. Love to taste it now but needs at least five or six years."

WEINWISSER: "100 % Merlot. 40 hl/ha. 30.000 Flaschen. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Süsses, kompaktes Bouquet, viel reife Kirschen, Holunder und Cassis, hinterlegt mit feinen floralen, erfrischenden Noten. Man spürt da im Hintergrund auch einen Hauch Minze und Milchschokotöne. Im Gaumen komplex, eine herrliche, parfümierte Merlotsüsse zeigend. Dieser Pétrus 2015 ist emotional bewegend und fraglos gross. Olivier Berrouet: «Da die Trauben sehr reif waren, konnten wir im Keller Vollgas geben. Das Resultat: Power und Finesse. Genau so muss ein ganz grosser Pétrus sein!"

DECANTER: "There is so much going on with Petrus in 2015 that you should just pull up a chair and relax, don't expect to be going anywhere soon. Aromatic persistency keeps reaching in, pulling you further alongside. There is a soft quality to the tannins that allows the black fruit to be both juicy and sweet. High alcohol is balanced by freshness - a pH of 3.5 is relatively rare on these sticky clay soils - unleashing waves of flavour, including bergamot, smoky tea, black olives and rich cherry. The persistency is crazy - I had to get my notes back out two or three times to take down additional flavours because it just kept giving something more. And it makes you smile! What more do you want? Bottled in June, but will not be sent out to customers until April 2018. 50% new oak."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Violets, lilies and the wrapper of a fine, Cuban cigar appear without the asking and fuse expertly with black and blue fruit, smoke, incense and damp earth. On the palate, this wine is pure eroticism in texture, royal, arousing yet discreet and with an exotic, cherry liqueur, dark chocolate and licorice presence in the finish. There is length, intensity and a deep, decadent endnote that must last at least 60 seconds. Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine reached 14.6% with pH 3.7. The harvest started September 14, finishing September 29. What made this vintage extraordinary for Petrus was the extended hang time, which for most years is close to 45 days. But with the 2015 vintage, the hang time during the harvest took between 50 and 60 days."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is like drinking liquid black currants and blackberries. The wine has great intensity and richness from the superbly generous Merlot. The wood aging shows as a hint in the background, with the bold black fruit and ample acidity dominating. Drink from 2026."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randauf­hellung, feiner Hauch von Gewürznelken, einladende ­dunkle Beerenfrucht, zart nach Kardamom, delikate flo­­rale Nuancen, ein Hauch von schwarzer Trüffel, verfüh­­­r­erisches Bukett. Saftig, extraktsüß, zugleich sehr frisch und elegant, seidige Tannine, die weit tragen, zeigt eine Breitband-Aromatik, süß und lange anhaftend, ein großer Pétrus, vital und mineralisch, mit sicherer Zukunft aus­gestattet."

JEB DUNNUCK: "One of the undeniable superstars of the vintage is the 2015 La Fleur Petrus, which is 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. This awesome wine builds with time in the glass and shines just as much for its purity and elegance and richness and power. Boasting a deep purple/plum color to go with thrilling notes of tobacco leaf, currants, licorice, and subtle oak, it has a multi-dimensional, layered, elegant, and full-bodied style on the palate that just begs to be drunk. Nevertheless, it needs 5-6 years of cellaring and will keep for 2+ decades. It’s a sensational wine!"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Not the deepest crimson of the lot. Exotic, super-charming nose. And lovely freshness on the palate. Almost Cabernet Franc-like (very ripe Cabernet Franc)! Hint of decongestant medicine! Something sweet and peppery. Not too big, but super-opulent. Great charm and intensity on the palate. Quite difficult to see the tannins; they emerge only at the end. You shouldn't need to wait too long for this. Wonderful persistence. The most beautiful ink you will ever encounter. Lots of energy."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Warm ganache, fig bread and blackberry compote notes give this a fleshy feel. Loam and warm espresso details glide underneath, further accentuating the dark profile. Shows ample drive and energy, with graphite and roasted alder elements and fresh acidity coursing through. Serious juice. Best from 2025 through 2040. 5,133 cases made."