Chateau Petrus, a representative wine from the right bank of Bordeaux, is known for being extremely expensive due to its difficulty in obtaining it.
In this article, we will introduce basic information about Chateau Petrus as well as recommended Chateau Petrus.
Basic information about Chateau Petrus
Below is some basic information about Chateau Petrus.- What is Chateau Petrus?
- The History of Château Petrus
- Characteristics of Chateau Petrus
What is Chateau Petrus?
Chateau Petrus is a chateau located in the Pomerol region on the right bank of Bordeaux . They grow mainly Merlot, a black grape variety, and the blend of Cabernet Franc and other grapes changes depending on the vintage.
A distinctive feature of the Pomerol region, where Chateau Petrus is located, is that it does not have a classification . While Saint-Emilion, which is also on the right bank, has a classification, Pomerol does not have such a classification, so the wines there do not have any special titles .
On the other hand, Pomerol wines are said to be highly rare and are valued for their quality, not for any "bias due to the rating."
Chateau Petrus is known as the finest wine in the Pomerol region, and its value is even said to surpass that of the top five chateaux in the Medoc region on the left bank of Bordeaux.
In fact, the price of the 2005 vintage Chateau Petrus en primeur (futures trading) is a whopping 340,000 yen per bottle (before the wine was actually released to the public).
Chateau Petrus is a wine that every wine lover in the world aspires to own at least once.
The History of Château Petrus
Unlike other chateaux, the history of Chateau Petrus is still shrouded in mystery . It is even said that the name was given to the Arnault family, who were the owners at the time, in the 19th century.A great (yet a little rainy) day at Château #Petrus today! I #wine it so much!! #winelady #winelovers #wineoclock #WineoftheWeek #finewine pic.twitter.com/sHS4yN6OYM
— Grand Cru Experience (@eladywine) June 4, 2017
The name of Chateau Petrus is said to have come from the name of the area in the past, but this is still a matter of speculation. However, the word Petrus is said to be Latin and means stone or Saint Peter, the leader of the Twelve Apostles .
Although Château Petrus itself is thought to have been producing wine for a long time, it was first mentioned in a document in 1837 .
It is believed that the name became popular after it won a gold medal at the Paris Exposition in 1889 due to its high quality.
By the time of World War II, Chateau Petrus had already achieved the prestige of a classified wine class in the Médoc, but its history took a turn in 1925. After Madame Louba became the sole owner, the quality of the wines improved dramatically .
By that time, it was already being traded at the same price as first-class wines, and thanks to the positive reviews from well-known wine critics, it quickly became a difficult wine to obtain.
Its popularity was further boosted by stories of it becoming a favorite of prestigious American families such as the Kennedys and the Rockefellers.
Currently, the vineyard is said to be about 11 hectares , and the annual production is less than 40,000 bottles. It is a brand with fans all over the world, and good vintages are becoming more and more expensive every year, so it is likely that it will become more and more difficult to obtain in the future .
Characteristics of Chateau Petrus
Chateau Petrus produces elegant wines, mainly Merlot blended with Cabernet Franc. They use concrete tanks and oak barrels for at least 21 months . New oak barrels are used at least 50% and up to 100%, depending on the vintage, making it a luxurious wine.
Although it is a Merlot, it is very robust and has a powerful flavor that can withstand aging for decades . It is said that the number of aromas is too numerous to count, including truffles, damp earth, amazing concentration, and complex spices.
And yet the tannins are velvety smooth and the mouthfeel is delicate, making for a miraculous taste.
It is a miraculous wine that no one will ever forget once they have tried it.
Château Petrus's Commitment
Why is Chateau Petrus so high quality? It is because of the attention to detail that only Chateau Petrus can offer .Below we will explain the secret behind the high quality of Chateau Petrus.
Chateau Petrus, Pomerol. The only winery I've ever seen with its own security guard #wine #chateau #petrus #pomerol #security #grapes #vineyard #fridaymorning #bordeaux @BordeauxWines pic.twitter.com/OSxmMnKokk
— Edward Gillin (@edward_gillin) September 16, 2022
Unique soil
As mentioned above, Chateau Petrus is a chateau located in the Pomerol region on the right bank of Bordeaux .This area is mainly made up of clay soil , unlike the gravelly soil of the left bank, and is said to produce higher quality Merlot and other grapes than Cabernet Sauvignon.
For this reason, famous chateaux in the region such as L'Evangile, La Conseillante, and Gazan also produce wines using blends centered around Merlot.
The biggest feature of Chateau Petrus is that although its vineyards are adjacent to those of the famous chateaux mentioned above, there are slight differences in the soil composition .
First, the key point is that swelling clay called "smectite" appears on the surface of the soil. It has different characteristics from other clays, such as storing water moderately and retaining a small amount of water even when dry, so it is thought to be ideal for growing grapes .
Carefully crafted
Château Petrus is very particular about its cultivation and winemaking methods, and was one of the first to adopt the "green harvest" method, which involves thinning the grapes and plucking the leaves to adjust the amount of sunlight the vines receive.
Another unique feature is that, unlike many wineries, harvesting takes place in the early morning, ours only harvests in the afternoon to allow the water droplets to evaporate .
What's surprising is that, despite being such a famous chateau, it still continues to make its wines using traditional methods , such as alcoholic fermentation in cement tanks, which have been in use since 1969, and using only natural yeast.
The collage is also traditionally done with egg whites and is unfiltered.
The secret to the Chateau's continued popularity may lie in the fact that, rather than using large-scale, state-of-the-art winemaking facilities, they have instead maintained the traditional taste of "Pétrus" .
Château Petrus's Great Year
The value of great wines, such as Chateau Petrus, changes depending on the vintage .
From here, let's explain about the good years of Chateau Petrus.
What is a lucky year?
There are wines that are called "good years ." Most wines are made using grapes harvested in that year. Some wines use stocked juice or blend wines of different years, but many famous wine regions, such as Chateau Petrus, make wine using grapes harvested in that year.For example, let's look at "Chateau Petrus 1989."
This means that the wine was made using grapes harvested in 1989. It was released after 1991 after aging, but the year the grapes were harvested is listed as the vintage, so it is called "Chateau Petrus 1989".
As a bit of trivia, a wine's vintage can sometimes be determined by the harvest year of the most prominent grape variety used.
Château Petrus's Great Year
Chateau Petrus is an old chateau , and as such, it has had many great vintages that are considered to be good years.
Basically, every vintage of Chateau Petrus is great, but the following years are considered to be particularly outstanding .
- Chateau Petrus 1961
- Chateau Petrus 1982
- Chateau Petrus 1989
- Chateau Petrus 1990
- Chateau Petrus 2000
- Chateau Petrus 2009
Among the wines from the above-mentioned good years, the one that is said to be the most highly rated in the history of Chateau Petrus is the 1961 Chateau Petrus .
The 1961 Chateau Petrus became known to wine lovers around the world after Robert Parker Jr., mentioned above, gave it a perfect score of 100 and called it an "immortal wine."
The price of a 750ml bottle is over 3 million yen , making it truly a liquid jewel.
By the way, it is said that Petrus produced extremely few bottles that year, which may have resulted in this being a legendary bottle .
Recommended Chateau Petrus
Chateau Petrus is a wine with a legendary presence, which is why some people may think it is difficult to obtain .However, it is now possible to purchase Chateau Petrus through mail order in Japan , so we recommend using these methods to obtain your hands on Chateau Petrus.
From here, we will introduce some recommended Chateau Petrus.
Chateau Petrus 1987
The 1987 vintage is characterized by its concentrated and elegant taste. It has received high scores of 85 points from Spectator and 87 points from Advocate, making it one of the most attractive Château Petrus vintages .Aromas of black fruits such as blackberries and cassis.
The cinnamon aroma and long aftertaste make for a wonderful finish .
brand | Grape variety | Vintage | Country of Origin |
Chateau Petrus | Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon | 1987 | France |
Chateau Petrus 2008
This is a monster Chateau Petrus , said to have the potential to age for up to 30 years.
brand | Grape variety | Vintage | Country of Origin |
Chateau Petrus | Merlot, Cabernet Franc | 2008 | France |
Chateau Petrus 2016
This is truly a great vintage, with fresh fruitiness and abundant tannins, yet an amazingly smooth taste .
brand | Grape variety | Vintage | Country of Origin |
Chateau Petrus | Merlot, Cabernet Franc | 2016 | France |
Chateau Petrus 2017
This is a wine that truly brings together the charm of the grapes and the entire Pomerol region, allowing you to enjoy an astonishing concentration .
brand | Grape variety | Vintage | Country of Origin |
Chateau Petrus | Merlot, Cabernet Franc | 2017 | France |
Chateau Petrus 1994
The aroma of black fruits, reminiscent of black cherries and mulberries, is topped off with fresh nuances of blood orange and red currant, creating an exquisite finish that overlaps like an orchestra.
Yet it also gives a very pure impression, with firm tannins that last until the end, providing an experience you can't get with any other wine .
brand | Grape variety | Vintage | Country of Origin |
Chateau Petrus | Merlot, Cabernet Franc | 1994 | France |
About purchasing wine
At Linksus, we buy wine at high prices , including Chateau Petrus. Our buyers have extensive experience and knowledge in wine buying, and will provide you with an accurate appraisal, so please consider buying wine at Linksus.
Below are some tips to help you get a high price for your wine at Linkus .
- Clean the bottle before purchasing
- Wines from good years are purchased at high prices
- Accessories also sold
- Storage methods are appropriate
- Sell early
In addition, wines from good years will be purchased at a higher price than wines from other vintages. Please note that the presence or absence of accessories and the condition of the wine will also affect the appraisal price .
Even if you sell Chateau Petrus, you can expect a high purchase price if you sell it early . Some wines become more valuable with long-term aging, but no matter how great a wine is, it will deteriorate once it is past its prime.
If you are thinking, "I want to sell my wine," we would appreciate it if you could sell it to us as soon as possible.
By the way, Linkus offers the following purchasing methods.
At Linkus, if you bring your wine directly to our store, we will evaluate it and pay you the estimated price on the spot . If you don't have time to go to the store or live far away, please use our mail-order purchase service .
Just like in-store purchases, we do not charge any fees or other costs for purchases , so please rest assured.
Also, if you are looking to sell a large amount of wine or are a business that is having trouble disposing of excess wine, please consider our on-site purchase service .
We are also currently offering a free advance appraisal service via LINE etc., which allows you to find out the price of the wine you want to sell in advance. Linkus offers a variety of purchasing methods to suit your lifestyle .
Please feel free to contact us.
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summary
Chateau Petrus is one of the world's best wines . However, surprisingly, many people do not know what kind of winery it is or the reason for its high quality.If you are interested in learning more about Chateau Petrus, please refer to this article .
In addition, Linkus purchases wines from around the world, including Chateau Petrus, at high prices . If you are having trouble disposing of your wine, we hope you will consider using Linkus.