Chateau Petrus - Petrus - Ex Chateau 2017

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Truffle, Cuban cigar wrapper, exotic spice, licorice and lilacs create the complex set of aromatics. Powerful yet poised, rich and fresh, dense and velvety, the finish remains with you for close to 60 seconds. The end notes deliver spicy, silky, creamy tannins, ripe, dark plums and darker red fruits that fill the palate. The wine is structured with all the right stuff to age for decades. Produced from 100% Merlot, the harvest started September 8, finishing September 28. The wine reached 14.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.6 . This is the wine of the vintage."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Petrus comes galloping out of the glass with bold, expressive notions of Black Forest cake, blueberry preserves and Christmas pudding with nuances of molten chocolate, Chinese five spice, candied violets, licorice and kirsch plus wafts of roses and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and fantastically concentrated, the palate has compelling freshness and a solid base of wonderfully ripe, velvety tannins, finishing very long and opulent. The aromatics at this youthful stage are atypical for Petrus and quite stunning—this 2017 is a bombshell! Furthermore, it is a unique style for this estate and one avid collectors should seek out!"

JAMES SUCKLING: "I love the aromatics to this with crushed berries, violets and black olives. Hints of vanilla and some caramel. Decadent. Full-bodied and round with very creamy tannins that melt into the wine. It starts off slowly and and then kicks off a few seconds later. The tannins are extremely polished and refined. Hard not to drink now, but wait. Try after 2025."

WEINWISSER: "100 % Merlot. Sattes Granat mit violettem Rand. Zeigt sich mir auf den ersten Blick ungewohnt schmeichelhaft. Ein erotisches Elixier mit duftigen Alpenheidelbeeren und frischem Schattenmorellensaft sowie Lakritze. Im zweiten Ansatz Preiselbeergelee und betörende Veilchen. Am cremigen Gaumen wie Samt und Seide, mit feinmehligem Extrakt und leicht stützenden Muskeln. Im gebündelten Finale ein Feuerwerk von blauen Beeren, Rosenholz und verführerischer Nougatschokolade – eine elegante Delikatesse mit einer beeindruckenden Harmonie, perfekt stützenden Rasse und enormem Lagerpotenzial. Im nicht enden wollenden Finale getrocknete Heidelbeeren. Reiht sich aktuell hinter Trotanoy auf Platz 2 ein und gehört dennoch zu den Top-Weinen des Jahres. 19+/20"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung, intensive schwarze Beerenfrucht, zart nach Walcholder und Lakritze, rauchig-gewürzig unterlegt, schwarze Kirschen und Mandarinenzesten. Stoffig, extraktsüße, seidige Textur, feiner Nougat, mineralisch-salzige Nuancen, kandierte Veilchen, samtiger, fruchtsüßer Nachhall, tolle Frische, zart nach Erdbeerkonfit, wirkt unglaublich gut entwickelt,Schokolade, Lakritze im Abgang, kann man vom Fleck weg genießen."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This delivers a torrent of pure, unadulterated raspberry fruit that extends effortlessly through the finish, while hints of incense, mineral and rooibos tea glisten tantalizingly throughout. Shows terrific cut and precision, with eye-catching detail. Drink now through 2040."

DECANTER: "One of the very few in the vintage where there is actual flesh on the bones, and lots of it. The danger in dry years is that tannins can get too angular, and the overall feeling too austere, but here they have successfully managed to maintain juice and aromatics. A three week harvest at Pétrus, a long window for this property where the terroir is so even. There is an awful lot to recommend here, and is easily one of the best wines of the year. The aromatic side is extremely enjoyable, touches of fresh hay, lovely gentle spice, tons of dark fruits, cinnamon and complexity. Extremely charming, with lots to say for itself. Drinking Window 2025 - 2042"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Jammy ripe fruit aromas lead to a wine that is powerfully structured and solid. With rich berry flavors and density, the wine is concentrated while also exuberant. The flavors are just developing, with great ripe fruits showing strongly. Drink from 2024."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2017 Chateau Petrus is, as always, 100% Merlot that's from the top of the Pomerol plateau. The 2017 is an incredibly elegant, perfumed example from this estate that has terrific cassis, raspberry, and red currants fruits as well as lots of floral and violet hints, medium to full body, a beautiful spine of acidity, and building tannins. It's not a blockbuster like the 2015 and 2016, yet it’s flawlessly balanced, with stunning purity of fruit and a great, great finish. Give bottles a solid 7-8 years, and it should keep for 20-25+."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Roasted red fruits on the nose. Strawberry and garrigue – quite unique in this vintage and perhaps beyond! Very succulent and round; very red fruited. If anything, a touch too ripe in its red fruit, but there is real persistence to the finish. Creamy and very polished."