Pétrus 2023

Deep, expressive, very floral—like a basket full of berries, tea, dark chocolate, cherries; pure poetry. On the palate, full and generous, with sweet fruit, lots of power and opulence, a mouthful of wine, yet with striking elegance. The wine seems to hover over the tongue, with sensational tannins, great length and a saline finish. A monument.

Delivers a steady, focused and well-proportioned beam of raspberry, black cherry and red currant preserves. Anise, apple wood and ink details are buried in the core, and succulent energy helps push the finish along gently as the fruit drips steadily. A late tug of cold clay gives this a well-buried ground wire. Best from 2028 through 2045.

98-100. Barrel Sample. There are dark red-fruit and spice aromas on this opulent wine. The wine is rich with concentration and powerful tannins. A dense wine, dominated by Merlot, that gives an underlay of dense black fruits. This is a seriously magnificent wine that will obviously age well.

Gorgeous aromatic profile; a little herbal, inky almost, pencil led, crayon, floral notes of iris and violet, cool blue fruits, mint and fresh raspberry. Some definite stoney minerality on the nose - dark and smoky. Racy and alive, this has zing combined with a chalky graphite grip to the tannins. Fresh and clean, really well defined with tannins that give the structure but despite their presence they're so harmonious. This is just so good, really juicy, mouthwateringly so, but keeps the straight finesse all the way through. It’s soft and totally charming - not over the top at all, yet not discrete either. This has confidence and character. A balance of power and delicacy with a touch of flesh on the finish that gives an extra bounce and sense of enjoyment. A subtle and stealthy wine that sneaks up on you, leaving you wanting more by the finish. 3.65pH. An extra gram of tannins per litre of wine (4g) compared to 3g in 2022. Harvest September 11-20. A potential 100-point wine.

100% Merlot. 40 hl/ha. Cask sample. Deep crimson hue. Pure and fresh with real zing and sparkle. Has a density of fruit but there’s nothing heavy. Filigree tannins that do not aggress (but apparently 30% more than in 2022). Super length with a mouth-watering finish. Delicious already but will inevitably age. (JL)

The 2023 Pétrus was bottled last May. This has a delightful nose, not powerful, not intense, but it is beautifully defined with blackberry, raspberry, subtle floral scents of violet and iris, hints of black truffle in the background. It gains a little intensity with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. Quite deep for the vintage. You would think there was some Cabernet Franc in the blend (you have to wait for 2025 for that). Quite linear in style, beautifully defined. Silky smooth on the finish that has the symmetry of a great Pomerol and an exquisite Pétrus.

With its distinctive aromatic profile, you find a vivid display of flowers, cherries, black raspberries, orange rind, and chocolate. However, it is the palate that steals the show with its opulent, lush, silky-textural profile, which makes the perfect backdrop for the seamless display of ripe plums, cherries, spice box, chocolate, and citrus that you encounter from start to finish. There is a serious depth of flavor, that is not only concentrated, but fresh, so you enjoy layers of seamless fruits, but, also zippy acidity, providing lift and length. The velvety finish, stays with you for at least 60 seconds. Drink from 2030-2070.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Black forest berry fruit with tobacco and herbal spices, cranberries, sea buckthorn, some liquorice. Deep with a firm structure, red berryish nuances, good freshness, ripe tannins, delicate fruit expression, mineral and salty, lingers for a very long time, a successful combination of floral, delicate aromas on the nose and a firm body in the finish, shows great length and good ageing potential.

A serious, powerful Petrus, the 2023 Château Petrus sports a deep ruby hue as well as classic aromatics of black cherries, roasted herbs, cassis, graphite, and smoky tobacco. Brought up 16 months in 50% new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied, with rock-solid concentration, ripe, integrated, yet classic Petrus tannins, and a great finish. It's a beautifully balanced, layered, seamless 2023 that reminds me slightly of a more dense version of the 2019. Hide bottles for 5-7 years and enjoy over the following two to three decades. Drink 2030-2063.

Dark plum, toasted grilled oak aromatics, measured and integrated, with a serious tannic frame. Luscious drops of black cherry and damson arrive after a few moments in the glass, this feels expertly held together, beautifully spicy, takes its time to reveal itself, as is often the case in the early years of Petrus, with the fruit deepening and showcasing its violet floral aromatics only after a bit of patience. There were 30% more tannins in the grapes that last year, which gives you some idea of why so much is hidden in the first moments in the glass. Yield of around 40hl/h. Harvest September 11 through to September 20. Possible upscore in bottle.

Freshness clearly leads the bouquet of Petrus, alongside notes of dark berries—blackberry in particular—soft spices and then black truffle. With aeration, the wine gains in complexity, revealing red berries, strawberry notes, then iris, black pepper and a resinous touch that broadens the aromatic spectrum. Supported by velvety, creamy tannins, it presents itself with both softness and energy, in a style that is less massive than usual yet all the more precise and ambitious. The lively acidity underpins the freshness, together with velvety tannins that provide power and, all the same, firmness. A Petrus that heralds greatness, classicism blended with the contemporary era. It was great en primeur; it is even greater today and will probably be even more so tomorrow. A wine focused on brilliance, subtlety, depth, length and the future, with an appreciable sense of accessibility.

Deep, dark color. An intense, refined, fruity and profound nose. Fleshy on the attack, complex on the mid-palate, with, as often, an airy dimension to the texture; the wine melts into a long, noble finish—very flavorful and delicious.