2018 Petrus

In a vintage that favoured Merlot, it's hard to ignore that Petrus should be on your list of wines to lay down. You won't even have to wait as long as in years such as 2016 or 2019 for this Petrus to come around, as the tannins are a little more pliable than you usually find in the early years. But there is kick and concentration here, with fleshy damson and cassis fruits, plush and luxurious with cocoa pod, grilled almonds, graphite and cigar box. 50% new oak, 3.6ph. 37hl/ha yield. Brilliant stuff from winemaker Olivier Berrouet.

The 2018 Petrus, matured in 50% new oak, was assessed over a period of 24 hours. It has a magnificent nose, replete with intense black currant, crushed violet and vanilla-y scents, the latter becoming subsumed with modest aeration. These aromas are chiseled to the n th degree and as harmonious as the Everly Brothers. The palate is, to use the phrase I employed out of barrel, quintessential Petrus. The tannins are less grainy and lend this Petrusa beguiling satiny veneer that is irresistible. Deep and gently gripping in the mouth, it has retained the clarity and pixelation I noted in barrel. The stunning tension and cohesion toward the finish will leave you with a Cheshire Cat grin plastered all over your face. I maintain that this is among Olivier Berrouet’s finest Petrusto date.

The 2018 Petrus is every bit as grand as I thought it could be. A wine with no start and no end, the 2018 envelops all the senses from the very first taste. It is at times intellectual, while in other moments more hedonistic, but it is always a total turn-on. Silky and layered, with exquisite finesse and depth to burn, the 2018 Petrus is unquestionably the wine of the vintage on the Right Bank and one of the handful of truly unforgettable wines of the vintage. As I wrote when I tasted the 2018 from barrel, I have never tasted a young Petrus with this much sheer class. It's an absolutely brilliant effort Petrus and Technical Director Olivier Berrouet.