2006 Château Petrus

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Petrus now seems to be evolving more slowly than the 2006 Le Pin: the fruit darker with raspberry coulis, mulberry, hints of marmalade and crushed rose petals coming forth. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, gently gripping the mouth and demonstrating admirable weight and complexity. You might almost think there was some Cabernet Franc towards the finish thanks to the subtle peppery notes coming through. It is probably ready to drink now, but the substance here suggests that it will age for another decade and continue to offer pleasure long after. Tasted January 2016.

Tasted blind. Oxidised nose. Big and bold on the palate but no freshness on the nose. (JR)

Pale to mid ruby. Pale rim. Markedly less rich on the nose than Le Pin. Almost timid in fact! Sweet palate entry and still definite structure. Very strong liquorice and still quite a bit of tannin. At quite a different evolutionary stage than Le Pin – much more youthful. Still lots of tannin and not fully resolved into a bundle of tertiary flavours. Clearly the product of marked maceration. Quite appetising but if I had one bottle I would wait for quite a time before opening it. (JR)