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An early September harvest in this hot year produced a 2003 that has reached full maturity. It offers notes of roasted coffee, melted chocolate, figs and black cherry jam. There are some rustic tannins in the finish, but this expansive, rich Petrus displays far more intensity and complexity than most expected given the difficulties in Pomerol in 2003. It should be consumed over the next 4-6 years.
An early September harvest in this hot year produced a 2003 that has reached full maturity. It offers notes of roasted coffee, melted chocolate, figs and black cherry jam. There are some rustic tannins in the finish, but this expansive, rich Petrus displays far more intensity and complexity than most expected given the difficulties in Pomerol in 2003. It should be consumed over the next 4-6 years.
Fleshy, fat, and already sexy, the dark plum/purple-tinged 2003 Petrus is exceptionally ripe and rich. While not as exotic as its rival, Lafleur, it is rich, heady, and loaded. A tour de force in winemaking for Pomerol, it vindicates Christian Moueix's decision to harvest nearly all his Merloton September 3 and 4, and the Cabernet Franc on September 17. However, production is tiny ... less than 1,700 cases. Full-bodied, powerful, and exceptionally pure without losing its nobility and elegance, this stunning Petrus can be drunk in 2-3 years or cellared for three decades. Drink 2008-2036
A tiny production and probably the earliest harvest ever at Petrus (September 3, 4, and 17, the latter date for the Cabernet Franc), this is one of the great wines and an extraordinary achievement for a Pomerol in this vintage. It was the famous blue clay terroir of Petrus that saved this vineyard from the drought conditions that undid most of the nearby Pomerols, which possess more gravel and sand in their soils. There are only 1,650 cases of the 2003 Petrus as opposed to 1,780 cases of the 2002 (production in abundant years is 4,000 cases). This extraordinarily dense, powerful, full-bodied wine has a dark plum/purple color to the rim and an exceptional bouquet of black raspberries, sweet cherries, vanilla, licorice, and a hint of fig. The wine is powerful and full-bodied with magnificent concentration, huge structure, yet amazing freshness and overall elegance given the size, muscle, and power of this wine. Qualitatively towering above every other Pomerol as well as most of the neighboring St.-Emilions, it is a wine of great density, nobility, and potential longevity. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040.
The small sub-region of Pomerol is situated north-east of the industrious city of Libourne. Pomerol's soils are predominately iron-rich clay with a smattering of gravel that produce wines with extraordinary power and depth. As a result of this clay-dominance, it has the highest percentage of Merlot planted in all of Bordeaux. Certain châteaux are produced exclusively from this grape, but most incorporate smaller quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc as well. Despite its hefty (if not exclusive) proportion of Merlot, many people think of wines from this region as separate entities. As one wine aficionado stated recently, "It's not Merlot. It's Pomerol." Despite the region's small size, Pomerol contains some of the world's most sought after (and expensive) wines including Pétrus, Le Pin, Lafleur, l'Evangile and Vieux Château Certan. Unlike other Bordelais subregions, there is no system of classification. The châteaux are traded on reputation alone.
