Petrus, Pomerol 2012

This shows fabulous length with a chocolate, berry and mineral undertone. Licorice and currants too. Full body yet refined with seamless tannins. Goes on for minutes. It shows such amazing length and elegance. Depth. Phenomenal structure here, especially for the vintage. Reminds me of the 1998 or 1971, which were structured yet very fine.
98

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2012 Petrus needs vigorous swirling to uncover notes of plum preserves, kirsch, and blueberry compote with hints of crushed rocks, truffles, licorice, and dried roses. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with spicy black fruit layers and superbly ripe, rounded tannins, giving just enough freshness to lift the long earthy finish. A stunning achievement for this vintage, give it another 5-7 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 25 years+.

The 2012 Petrus has a slightly higher-toned bouquet than its peers: scents of brambly red fruit and briary, liquorice and dried herbs. This gains complexity in the glass, and a second bottle at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On, given two hours to open, develops some gorgeous pure plummy fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, fleshy, ripe and harmonious with pliant tannins and a little more obvious oak towards the sensual finish, white pepper and thyme lingering on the aftertaste. Wonderful. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

There is a boatload of tannin in this intense purple-colored effort as well as a beautiful bouquet of mulberry jam, kirsch, licorice, truffles and toast. Seductive, full-bodied and opulent with abundant red and black fruit, it is a full-bodied, long, impressive Pomerol that should keep for 30+ years.

Merlot was one of the favored varietals in 2012, and Pomerol was undeniably the top appellation. One of only a handful of candidates for “wine of the vintage,” the 2012 Petrus was fashioned from small yields due to a significant loss of the crop due to the poor flowering and resulting coulure as well as the lack of rain between mid-July and September 25. The harvest lasted for nearly two weeks from September 24 to October 8). The natural alcohol in the 2012 ranks alongside that in the 2010 and 2009, 14.5%. The finished pH was 3.8.

A dark, hulking beauty, the 2012 Pétrus is utterly beguiling. For the year, the Pétrus boasts remarkable density and pure power. Spice, leather, cedar and tobacco wrap around a core of intense, super-ripe fruit. Bad weather during flowering lowered potential yields and resulted in a firm, powerful Pétrus that is going to need time to blossom. I imagine the 2012 will still be a pretty special wine at age forty.

Bright, deep ruby. An exotic blueberry scent is complicated by sexy notes of violet, cocoa, coffee and flint. Very rich, dense, supple and sweet on the palate, with noteworthy complexity and precision to the spicy black fruit and floral flavors. Conveys a strong impression of energy on the sweet, very long finish. This wine possesses silky tannins and lovely purity of fruit, but while flattering and easier to taste today than some recent vintages of Petrus at the same stage, it doesn't have the structure of the better vintages. Still, there is no trace of the dilution or of the tough tannins that plague other big names in Pomerol in 2012. One of the five best wines of the vintage.