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The 2004 Petrus is not one of the strongest wines of the decade, though it remains a fine Pomerol. The bouquet does not hold back with splendid fruit concentration: floral top notes with pressed violets and shaved black truffles, traits I observed in previous bottles. The palate is gracefully moving into its secondary phase with touches of tobacco and warm gravel infusing the red fruit. However, there is a conservative element to this Petrus that opts to play it safe. You do not feel as if it will evolve into something more, which begs the question whether you should continue cellaring it? I see no harm in pulling bottles now, larger formats later. 2020-2032
The 2004 Petrus is not one of the strongest wines of the decade, though it remains a fine Pomerol. The bouquet does not hold back with splendid fruit concentration: floral top notes with pressed violets and shaved black truffles, traits I observed in previous bottles. The palate is gracefully moving into its secondary phase with touches of tobacco and warm gravel infusing the red fruit. However, there is a conservative element to this Petrus that opts to play it safe. You do not feel as if it will evolve into something more, which begs the question whether you should continue cellaring it? I see no harm in pulling bottles now, larger formats later. 2020-2032
The dark plum/ruby-tinged 2004 Petrus possesses high acidity as well as copious amounts of sweet cherries and black currants intermixed with hints of cola, earth, and truffles. Deep, medium-bodied, concentrated, ripe flavors are excruciatingly firm and tannic. This backward, structured, muscular Pomerol requires a decade of cellaring, but it possesses the potential to be the longest lived wine of the vintage, lasting 30-40 years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035
Petrus's 2004 production (3000+ cases) was nearly twice what was achieved in 2003 and 2002.Surprisingly broad, dense, and opulent (a descriptor not often applied to 2004 Bordeaux), it possesses a deep ruby/purple color, terrific purity, and notes of mulberries, sweet cherries, black fruits, scorched earth, Chinese black tea, and a hint of truffles. With full body, moderately high tannin, and impressive depth and length, it should be at its apogee between 2011-2025+. Petrus has to take a back seat to Lafleur in this vintage as it does not reveal the potential complexity of that wine. Nevertheless, it exhibits a deep ruby/plum/purple color, superb ripeness and richness, amazing density, moderate tannin, and a long, heady finish. Notions of mulberries, black cherries, licorice, truffles, caramel, and toasty oak emerge from this big Pomerol. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030
Deep, bright crimson. Relatively light nose – almost timid. Neat concentration of fruit on the palate but no splendour. A little bit of iodine, some digestive biscuits. Only medium weight. Well corseted in terms of sandy tannins. Some notes in the background waiting to develop but this wine may be taking good manners just a stage too far. It will be many years before it grabs our attention, I think. Drink 2015-2025
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.
