2018 Petrus, Pomerol 1x150cl

JancisRobinson.com 19

Tasted blind. Very dark. Glowing shaded crimson. Intense, distinctive, concentrated. Peppery note on the complex nose. Voluptuous texture. Almost impossible to spit out. Rich. [19/01/2022]

Anticipated maturity: 2028-2050

Antonio Galloni 100

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. [Antonio Galloni, 29/03/2021]

Anticipated maturity: 2028-2068

Wine Advocate 100

The 2018 Petrus has retained its opaque purple-black color after bottling, foreshadowing the seemingly frozen-in-time glacial pace at which this wine is proceeding. It opens very reluctantly, requiring considerable air with vigorous swirling and doggedly demands a few hours before it offers glimpses at this slumbering giant of a wine. As it eventually unfurls, it slowly morphs into a powerful, fantastically pure nose of preserved plums, blackberry preserves and blueberry compote, followed by nuances of molten licorice, dark chocolate, black truffles, iron ore and, still later, floral notions of lilacs and rose oil come through. The full-bodied palate is taut, muscular and oh-so-tightly wound at this stage, revealing peeks at many, many layers of perfectly ripe black and blue fruits, exotic spices and earthy notions for which words simply fail. The texture is at once rock solid and fantastically plush, with impeccably knit freshness, finishing so long you really can’t taste or think of anything else for the rest of the day. Here is a heart-stopping titan that puts paid to all those naysayers who contest that perfection in wine cannot exist. It will require a good 8-10 years to hit its stride, then it is very likely to outlive us all, but you will want to make certain you drink this one before you go. [Lisa Perrotti-Brown, 27/03/2021]

Anticipated maturity: 2029-2080

Neal Martin 98

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 <em>n</em>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 Petrus a 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 Petrus to date. [Neal Martin, 08/03/2021]

Anticipated maturity: 2024-2060

vinum 97-98

Combines the fleshiness of the riper wines with the elevated acid of others but without the jarring peachy character of the less successful. Very complete and spherical. Seamless. Has spice, crisply-defined fruit and density. At once, less compliacted than Lafleur but also inscrutable. Velvet. [Matthew Hemming, 01/03/2019]