95-100 / 100
Noncontractual photograph
The Petrus estate derives its name from a village called "Petrus". Its history is recent and yet this wine is already a legend. Throughout the nineteenth century the area belonged to the Arnaud family. In 1925, a woman from the Libourne region, Ms. Loubat, takes shares in the property. Twenty years later she is the sole owner. Understanding that the wines of the Medoc sell for more than wines of Pomerol, in particular her wines, she did everything she could to take advantage of such a promising terroir. In a few decades the myth was born. In 1961, Mrs Lacoste and Mr. Lignac, niece and nephew of Mrs. Loubat inherit the estate.The vineyard is based on the highest hill of the designation, culminating at an altitude of 40 meters. The soil consists mainly of clay which is well suited to Merlot which constitutes 95% of the plantings. The 12 hectares are the subject of constant work and a constant obsession with détail. It is thought that Pétrus is more accessible to tasting than some of its illustrious colleagues..
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT BRION 1990
Pessac Leognan
Champagne
CHÂTEAU CANON LA GAFFELIERE 1990
Saint Emilion
Moulis-en-Medoc
Pauillac
Aloxe Corton
FERRATON Père & Fils - Les Miaux 1990
Hermitage Rouge
Pauillac
DOMAINE HUET Le Haut Lieu 1990
Vouvray
Pomerol
Intense dark red color, fruity and complex nose. There are hints of greater maturity and smoke. After swirling the glass, there's a touch of almond, resin, and cream. Entry on the palate is fresh and fruity, developing a very, very fatty and powerful, tannic structure. The wine is very concentrated and melts in your mouth, but ends on slightly firmer tannins than 89. The finish is very long. It is great wine.
The 1990 Petrus remains incredibly young, one of the least evolved wines of the vintage (along with Montrose and Beausejour-Duffau). This dense rubypurple-colored effort is beginning to hint at the massive richness and full-bodied intensity lurking beneath its wall of tannin. The vintage’s sweetness, low acidity, and velvety tannins are present in abundance, and the wine is massive in the mouth as well as incredibly pure and well-delineated. This wine is capable of lasting at least four more decades. An incredible achievement!
A classy wine... Expressive and sophisticated, with wonderful ripe fruit and vanilla aromas. The palate is extremely silky with superb flavor concentration. It's very muscular but refined and toned.
(2012)
This was a fruity and sexy Petrus, a veritable red, black and purple ménage a trois in its tropical nose. Cedar and pomegranate emerged to add secondary complexity. The palate was decadent and tasty; its opulence was spilling out of the glass, but its cedar and structure provided foundation and backbone. There was jam on this toasty, gamy and exciting wine. While 1989 has historically stolen the thunder from the 1990, this was one of the best 1990s I can remember.