A French
appellation d'origine contrôlée(AOC)wine from the
Pomerol wine-growing region ,
Petrus is considered one of the greatest
Bordeaux wines, just like the Médoc Grands Crus Classés. But while Petrus is one of the most famous wines in the world, its fame is very recent, only really beginning in 1945.
History of Petrus 1996
According to history, Petrus wine was a
favorite of Philippe Auguste's court as early as the 12th century. The name of the Petrus estate comes from the place where it is located, which would be Saint-Pierre. Perhaps this is why
Saint Peter is depicted holding the keys to heaven on Petrus wine labels.
The origins of the Petrus estate
Acquired in 1770, the Petrus estate has long been managed by
the Arnaud family. At the end of the 19th century, Petrus was one of Pomerol's finest wines, alongside Vieux Château Certan. Its price is comparable to that of the Médoc's second growths. In the early 20th century, the property was acquired by Mr. Saben-Douarre, who sold part of it to Mr. Loubat in 1925, then the whole of it in 1945. Shortly afterwards, he sold his exclusive marketing rights to
Jean-Pierre Moueix.
The Moueix family takes over the business
Initially an exclusive merchant, Jean-Pierre Moueix soon became involved in the running of the vineyard and vinification until
Edmonde Loubat 's death in 1961. She has two heirs: her nephew, Jean-Louis Robert Lignac, and her niece, Lily Paul Lacoste. The former sold his share (half of Petrus) to Jean-Pierre Moueix in 1964.
In 1972, Jean-Pierre Moueix sold his shares in Petrus to
his son Jean-François. The latter will buy the other half from Lily Lacoste, thus becoming the sole owner. Jean-François Moueix is also a major Bordeaux wine merchant.
Characteristics of the Petrus vineyard
The
11.3-hectare Petrus vineyard sits atop the Pomerol plateau, on an exceptional terroir. In fact, the particularly ancient soils abound in
blue clay over a subsoil of
iron slag, providing an ideal water supply. The average age of the vines in the vineyard is
40 years. Planting density varies between
6,300 and 7,000 plants per hectare. The secret of Petrus wine is undoubtedly linked to these geoclimatic characteristics.
But it's also the
winemaking work of a modest wine god:
Jean-Claude Berrouet, whose traces can be found in vineyards the world over as an exceptional trainer who has shaped both confirmed winemakers and grand cru winemakers.
Petrus, a wine of restraint
Characterized by
complex aromas with floral touches, Petrus is a restrained, sensitive, delicate wine that needs to be approached with care. Petrus wines have a deep texture, velvety tannins, energy and exceptional length. They improve with age and
can be kept for over 50 years.
The 1996 Petrus wine, with its powerful tannins, has an opaque purple color and presents sweet berry aromas with hints of toast, coffee and earth. It goes very well with
truffled pheasant,
jugged hare or
roast lamb with basil.
