Petrus - Pomerol 2016

Vinous

97

par Neal Martin le 13/08/2020

The 2016 Petrus has an extrovert bouquet of peppermint- and star-anise-tinged red fruit that turns more licorice-scented with time. This is a flamboyant, almost extrovert bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, a superb bead of acidity and a judicious sprinkling of white pepper toward the harmonious finish. On the palate at least, it feels more linear than its peers, but there is incontrovertible class from start to finish. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 97+

Jancis Robinson

19

par Jancis Robinson le 05/02/2020

Yvesbeck.wine

99

par Yves Beck le 20/03/2019

Pourpre violacé Le nez est puissant et filigrane. Cela vous semble paradoxal ? Et bien ça l'est mais c'est normal. C’est Petrus et sa subtile force. Parfums de groseilles, de mûres et de réglisse. Après quelques minutes, le nez dévoile de la fraîcheur avec des notes de baies rouges, suivies de touches de poivre et de graphite. L'attaque est filigrane également et, bien évidemment, puissante. En trois mots, elle est racée, élégante et fruitée. L'acidité et les tannins forment une structure pour plusieurs décennies et Petrus se révèle sous un angle puissant et vif avec une touche crayeuse et des arômes de réglisse en bouche. Quelle finesse de tannins et quelle intensité aromatique. Ces tannins prennent lentement et gracieusement place. Ils sont puissants, élégants, compacts et parfaitement en synthèse avec la vivacité de la structure qui dirige l'ensemble du palais. Quelle puissance et quelle grâce. En fin de bouche le vin gagne encore en expression. Il n'est pas juste sage ou gracieux, il est Petrus dans la jeunesse de son âge et il a envie de s'émanciper en soulignant que c'est bien son droit d’être un adolescent… ce qu'il fait dans une mesure similaire à d'autres cancres (comme Lafleur par exemple) et qu'il caractérise par une forme d'austérité qu’il sait néanmoins emballer avec de du velours et de la puissance. La grandeur actuelle de Petrus se mesure au fil des minutes… sa grandeur dans le temps se mesurera au fil des décennies ! Quelle longueur en finale, quelle persistance et quel caractère ! Un Petrus qui titille le graal, d’ailleurs je me demande s’il n’en serait pas le contenu ! 2026-2061 99/100

Jeb DUNNUCK

99

par Jeb Dunnuck le 01/03/2019

One of the top wines in the vintage is unquestionably the 2016 Petrus, which is, as always, all Merlot aged in just over half new French oak. It's more reserved and subtle compared to the 2015, yet it’s unquestionably in the same ballpark, offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as a classy bouquet of crème de cassis, black cherries, graphite, smoke tobacco, spring flowers, and subtle spicy oak. This is a wine that builds with time in the glass and delivers a full-bodied, multi-dimensional texture, present, ripe tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that won't quit. It’s haute couture at its finest, and as I wrote multiple times in my notes, simply pure class. Hide bottles for at least 7-8 years (10-15 would be even better) and it will keep for half a century.

Wine Spectator

96

par James Molesworth le 05/02/2019

There are both lush and structured elements working here, with velvety cassis, raspberry puree and plum compote notes intertwined with tobacco, alder and cocoa accents. This pulls together steadily through the finish, showing superb focus and a tight-grained feel, while fresh acidity imparts rippling energy. The raspberry note hangs longest through the finish. Best from 2022 through 2038.   –JM

Jamessuckling.com

100

par James Suckling le 04/02/2019

This is very fleshy and deep with so much texture and richness. It’s full-bodied yet fresh. The tobacco, white truffle, licorice and dark fruit are so impressive. It’s so exuberant and wild. It just goes on for ever. Spellbinding. Very muscular and powerful. Agile and energetic. Please give this time. Needs eight to ten years. Try from 2029.

Vinous

98

par Neal Martin le 24/01/2019

The 2016 Pétrus was bottled at the end of July – a little late, according to Oliver Berrouet – although it was taken out of barrel at the end of May and finished in stainless steel tank for the final few weeks. Berrouet feels that this vintage found its place during the barrel maturation, opining that its complexity and fruité make it one of the great Pétrus. It has a drop-dead gorgeous bouquet offering pure black cherries, bilberry and violet and displaying impressive depth, but it takes 15 to 20 minutes to bloom. The palate is fresh on the entry, with filigreed tannin framing pure black fruit laced with spice and a hint of white pepper, and perhaps a little less extrovert than some recent vintages. The satiny texture is stunning: there’s not a hair out of place. Gains more depth toward the beautifully poised finish. A magnificent Pétrus that is up there with the greats. 14.5% alcohol.

Vinous

99

par Antonio Galloni le 21/01/2019

The 2016 Pétrus is magnificent. There is a sense of total completeness in the 2016 that is hard to capture with words. A regal wine of total presence, the 2016 simply has it all. Beautifully layered in the glass, with stunning aromatics and endless, layered fr the 2016 is utterly captivating. Once again I am struck by the wine's purity and total class. Technical Director Olivier Berrout and his team turned out a magnificent Pétrus in 2016. Total time in barrel was 19 months, with 50% new oak.

Wine Advocate

100

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 30/11/2018

Opaque purple-black colored, the 2016 Petrus slips effortlessly out of the glass with sanguine, seductive notes of kirsch, warm black plums, blueberry compote, red roses, Ceylon tea, violets, dark chocolate-covered cherries, licorice and cinnamon stick with wafts of iron ore, pencil lead, unsmoked cigars and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, profound and absolutely edifying on the palate, the densely packed, beautifully perfumed red and blue fruit layers possess a charge like defibrillators stimulating your heart to be faster, each delivering achingly subtle floral and spice sparks, perfectly framed by very firm, very grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with incredible length and taking you to depths that extend to a provocative ferrous undercurrent. Stunning.

Decanter.com

99

par Jane Anson le 25/10/2018