Château Petrus
Little known 50 years ago this chateau has seen the rise of a myth about the uniqueness of its wine. The wine’s inimatibility is due to many factors first of all an exceptional terroir - 40 meters above sea level the highest point of the appellation - with a layer of heavy clay soil and an iron subsoil. These are ideal conditions for the expression of the Merlot grape. With such a special terroir the approach in the vineyard and cellar is traditional and respectful. The work done in the vineyard is fastidious - severe pruning in the winter regular ploughing crop-thinning de-leafing manicuring the clusters in the summer - and allows the perfect ripening of the fruit. The grape are manually harvested within two afternoons and sorted before crush. Fermentation is carried out gently without any overextraction in temperature-controlled concrete tanks. The blend very often pure Merlot is defined in December and the young wine is aged in 100% new oak barrels. This property made famous by Madame Edmond Loubat and then by Monsieur Jean-Pierre Moueix culminates at 130 feet on the plateau of Pomerol. Ets Jean-Pierre Moueix is responsible for the cultivation vinification and aging as well as the export distribution of Petrus wines.
Description
"The 1990 Petrus remains incredibly young, one of the least evolved wines of the vintage (along with Montrose and Beausejour-Duffau). This dense ruby/purple-colored effort is beginning to hint at the massive richness and full-bodied intensity lurking beneath its wall of tannin. The vintage’s sweetness, low acidity, and velvety tannins are present in abundance, and the wine is massive in the mouth as well as incredibly pure and well-delineated. I thought it would be drinkable by now, but it appears another 5-10 years will pass before it begins to reach its plateau of maturity. This wine is capable of lasting at least four more decades. An incredible achievement!" Robert Parker
Food Pairing
Roast duck breast with dried cherry sauce.