Petrus, Pomerol 2014

A wine evincing true enlightenment. It’s floral on the nose and also shows blackberries, stones, minerals and cedar. Full-bodied, yet its so fine-grained and tight. So, so long. It builds like a waterfall on the finish. The tannins are powerful yet superbly integrated and harmonious. Needs four to five years in bottle.

Drink in 2023

Strongly scented nose with the faintest hint of tertiary aromas, a soft coffee, vanilla, herbal aspect. Supple and juicy, really quite grippy and intense, not weighty, but this carries power and flavour really well. Strong and intense in terms of the aspects on show, vibrant blackcurrant, liquorice spiced black cherry, and lots of dark fruit notes with some tobacco underneath. Still feels as if it hasn’t quite hit its stride, a little tense and compact, but the bones of an amazing wine are there. I love the purity but more so the detail to the tannins, they’re present and give structure and tang, but are so well worked. Long finish. Really profound.

Drink 2024 - 2044

50% new oak. Oliver Berrouet, winemaker.

Smoky, grilled depths of black cherry, damson, and raspberry, fleshy yet reserved, stands out among the Pomerols for its subtle complexity; there is still plenty of give in those tannins, still a ton to reveal, revelling in its layers, grip and length, at once intense and concentrated and yet caressing in its tannic structure. A beautiful Petrus that shows why this wine can excel even in vintages that are more challenging for the appellation as a whole, but I suggest holding on to it for a few more years yet.

Drink 2024 - 2042

New oak is 50%

The 2014 Petrus possesses remarkable density and power, with superb overall depth and an explosive sense of energy that is impossible to miss. Scents of violet, spice and rose petal open up in the glass before the fruit totally takes over. Broad and resonant throughout, Pétrus is one of the bigger, richer wines readers will come across in 2014. The harvest at Petrus took place between September 23 and October 4. Winemaker Olivier Berrouet gave the 2014 15 days on the skins, opting for what he describes as very gentle extractions.

Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

The 2014 Petrus has a slightly more extroverted bouquet compared directly with Lafleur. Crushed strawberry mixes with cranberry, orange rind and light cedar scents. With aeration, there are hints of dark chocolate and wild fennel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very cohesive and fresh. I feel that this Petrus has tightened up in recent months, which is a positive feature, as I was concerned that it might be advancing too quickly. As such, the finish has more brightness, tension and backbone. Excellent.

Drink 2024 - 2050