Chateau Petrus - Petrus - Ex Chateau 2022

WEINWISSER: "99 % Merlot, 1 % Cabernet Franc: 14.5 Vol.-%., pH: 3.6. 20 hl/ha, 18.000 Flaschen. Fermentation im Zement, 50 % Neuholz. Lese: 01. bis 07.09. (zum Vergleich 2021: 30.09 bis 09.10.). Ein wie früher dichtfarbiger Petrus (anders als 2021). Herrlich sinnlich anmutender Duft, sehr fokussiert mit floralen Noten wie Veilchen und lila Blumen (Lilac), reifen roten Beeren, Wildkirschen und roten Johannisbeeren, dazu eine herrliche Lakritznote. Im Mund hoch elegant mit perfekt geformtem (Adonis-)Körper, mit weichen, finessenreichen Konturen, reichhaltig und verführerisch samtig und doch ungemein finessenreich und mit mineralischen Aspekten. Ein nach dem schlanken Petrus wieder sinnlich-konzentrierter Wein mit seidiger Textur und finessenreichem, pikantem Finale."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Trüffelnuancen, schwarze Kirschen, Lakritze, ein Hauch von süßen Gewürzen, vermittelt eine große Frische, Komplex, stoffig, reife rote Waldbeeren, kraftvolle, eingebundene Tannine, seidig und anhaftend, salzig im Abgang,, vermittelt eine enorme Länge, mineralisch und anhaftend, tolles Reifepotenzial, rotbeerig-zitronige Nuancen im langen Nachhall, könnte man sofort genießen, sichere Zukunft für Jahrzehnte."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Violets, lilacs, roses and jasmine are in full-force before finding all the red, and black pit fruits. On the palate, it is the striking vibrancy, and intense concentration that is the story here. The purity in the fruits, depth of flavor, chalky tannins and endless waves of black and blue fruit stay put on your palate for at lest 60 seconds. This is a unique style of Petrus which blends intensity and vibrancy with a purity of fruit and touches of chocolate . There is nothing out of place. The wine is perfectly balanced, seamless, and well, prefect. The success of the vintage is due in large part to waiting for the right moment to pick. With their deep, blue clay, they harvested September 1 - September 7, 14.5 ABV%, 3.63 pH. Yields were 20 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2030-2065."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2022 Château Petrus showed brilliantly and is clearly in the top handful of wines in the vintage. The usual 100% Merlot and harvested between the 1st and 7th of September, it checks in as 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.63. Deep purple-hued, with a tight yet layered nose of darker cherries, cassis, spring flowers, violets, and perfectly integrated oak, it's full-bodied and has the vintage's pure, concentrated, powerful style, gorgeous tannins, and that classic, salty, mouthwatering finish of this château. It opens up beautifully with time in the glass, and given its purity and tannin quality, it's going to offer some up-front appeal yet have 50 years of longevity. I suspect it will take 10-12 years to hit the early stages of its prime drink window."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: „Deep purple-black colored, the 2022 Petrus features fantastically fragrant notes of rose oil, star anise, lilacs, and cinnamon stick, giving way to a powerful core of preserved plums, blueberry compote, and raspberry preserves, plus wafts of Sichuan pepper and iron ore. The full-bodied palate delivers layer upon layer of black berry and mineral inspired flavors, injected with an electric backbone of vibrant red berry sparks and seamless acidity, textured by super-plush tannins, finishing with epically long lingering ferrous and aniseed notes. Magic. The alcohol is 14.5% and the pH is a healthy 3.63."

DECANTER: Aromatic and so perfumed but this really comes alive in the glass with coffee, chocolate, tobacco, blackcurrant and ripe cherry fruit - smells potent, opulent, rich and concentrated. Round, supple and agile in the mouth, a lovely intensity of dark bramble fruit accented by massy, chewy tannins that have a sharp edge to them - a vein of chalky, graphite minerality with high mouthwatering acidity. You get the power and intensity of a hot year, intensity and depth, layers of ripe fruit but with sweet, sharp and sour accents too, all giving such interest and nuance. A really appealing weight, extremely moreish and darkly charming with lift at the end. On the more generous side in all the areas with the acidity carrying the wine to a long finish. Really has the Pomerol typicality that you want - depth and richness - but giving brightness and sense of life that makes this a clear success. 3.63pH. 5-6% press wine. Harvest started on 1 September, the same date as 2003, and finished on 7 September.

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2022 Pétrus has turned out brilliantly, bursting with aromas of mulberries, cherries, raspberries and violets, followed by a full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that's ample and enveloping, its succulent core of fruit entirely concealing its sweet structuring tannins. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, its purity of fruit and structural suavity are deceptively effortless, but in reality result from incredible attention to detail in a vintage like this. Olivier Berrouet felt that maturity hadn't yet been attained by late August, picking a little later, with the core of the vineyard harvested on September sixth and seventh. Low yields and elevated concentration led him to reduce pumping over but prolong vatting, letting the wine take its time to come together. While I don't think it will quite rival the brilliant 2020 (time will tell!), it is a superb achievement and remarkably harmonious for such an extreme vintage."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep crimson colour. Fragrant but fresh with a dominance of red fruit. Palate round, juicy and seductive, the matière dense and tannins so fine they don’t seem to be there. Long, lingering finish with an almost chalky freshness. Moreish but measured, the balance just right."