1934 Petit Village

The 1934 Petit-Village is the oldest vintage I have tasted from this Pomerol estate. It is a surprisingly deep garnet in color. The nose is fresh with impressive definition: red-berries, singed leather, antique glass vase of red roses and white fennel emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a lively acidic spice that counterbalances what presumably was quite intense ripe fruit, notes of sloes and mocha. You can quibble and argue that it is a bit one-dimensional, yet its vigor cannot be denied, and I admire the deft hints of red cherry and dried orange peel on the sinewy finish. This is a turn-up for the books. Tasted September 2007.