Château Petrus 2014

It is one of the most famous wines in the world; the name Pétrus immediately electrifies Bordeaux lovers. However, quantities are so small, at around 30,000 bottles annually, that many wine lovers have to content themselves with the sound of the name. When it comes to prices, the legendary château is on par with its great Burgundian counterpart, the Domaine de La Romanée-Conti. However, anyone expecting a magnificent château here is likely to be disappointed. One of the great legends of the international wine world is created in a small, elegant mansion in the typical Bordelais style; one could almost ignore it. Pétrus is first mentioned by name in 1817, but the steep rise did not begin until Madame Edmond Loubat entered the business and guided the château’s fortunes until 1961. It was then sold to the well-known and now famous wine merchant Jean Pierre Moueix, who eventually transformed it into an absolute Bordelais celebrity. 11 hectares of vines are planted in Pétrus on that unique ferruginous clay soil that has only a thin layer of sand and pebbles. It is this soil that gives the Pétrus wines – 95 percent Merlot – that incomparable richness and depth. The remaining 5 percent of Cabernet Franc is used exclusively according to the quality of the harvest, on which the work in the vineyard and cellar also have a significant influence. The selective harvesting in the vineyard is extremely elaborate and drastically reduces the yields. There is no second wine, unsuitable grapes are sold to other winemakers. Gentle fermentation is followed by aging in new oak barrels for about two years. So today, every bottle of Pétrus, if you can find one, represents one of the great myths of the wine world.