CHATEAU PETRUS Grand Vin de Pomerol 2008 Bottle

Description

The 2008 Petrus, rated 97 points by The Wine Advocate, is a concentrated and intense wine, with only 25,000 bottles produced from low yields of 30 hectolitres per hectare. This 100% Merlot exhibits a dark purple hue and alluring aromas of mocha, caramel, black cherries, and earth. Full-bodied and pure, it requires 4-5 years of cellaring and will age beautifully for 25-30+ years. Decanter awarded it 96 points for its embracing tannins and notes of liquorice, dark plum, and coffee bean, while Vinous also scored it 96, highlighting its darker fruit and mineral-driven finish. James Suckling gave it 94 points, praising its floral character, fine tannins, and sweet berry notes, suggesting it's best enjoyed after a few years.

*****

THE WINE ADVOCATE 97 points
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Drink Date: 2015 - 2045
It is hard to call Petrus a “sleeper of the vintage,” but the 2008 will merit more attention than most consumers would think. Low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare resulted in only 25,000 bottles of this beauty. A wine of great intensity (possibly the most concentrated wine of the vintage), this 100% Merlot boasts a dark purple color as well as a sweet perfume of mocha, caramel, black cherries, black currants, earth and forest floor. Deep, unctuously textured, full-bodied and pure, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and should drink well for 25-30+ years.

DECANTER 96 points
Tasted by: Jane Anson (at BI, London, 01 Jan 2018) Part of Petrus: producer profile plus top wines tasted
Drinking Window: 2020 - 2038
Tight and firm, yet with incredibly embracing tannins that are still in their early phase of evolution, even though it is 100% Merlot. It's a trick that basically nobody else in Pomerol can pull off to quite this extent. Some liquorice kicks through, along with dark plum and blackberry fruits, touches of white pepper and coffee bean. Extremely enjoyable and still extremely young.

VINOUS 96 points
Drinking Window: 2020 - 2045
Neal Martin, February 2018
The 2008 Petrus has a classic Pomerol nose, perhaps darker fruit than other vintages, blackberry and briary, a touch of truffle and minerals. I love the definition here, the cool restraint. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a fine bead of acidity, chalky and tensile with moderate depth. There is a sense of composure, maybe even conservatism attached to this Petrus that sports a mineral-driven and (at least for this Pomerol) almost austere finish compared to the 2009 or 2010. But it is a lovely wine that is only just beginning to open. Haunting. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.)

JAMES SUCKLING 94 points
There's so much floral and berry character on the nose and palate here. It's full-bodied and very dense with lots of fine and delicate tannins. Winemaker Oliver Berrouet calls it a classic Bordeaux in style and I have to agree with him because of the fine tannins, fresh acidity, and beautiful reserve fruit. Lovely sweet berry and chocolate finish to the wine. Try in in five to six years.