Petrus Pomerol 1980

Details

Known as one of the most expensive and renowned wines on the planet, Petrus is one of the few Bordeaux wines not to use the "château" appellation. While Pomerol doesn't classify wines, wine lovers and professionals would readily grant Petrus the designation of "Super Premier Cru" if it existed. Petrus isn't a château. It's a unique terroir: the vineyard lies on a clay slab where the Merlot produces its best. It's a legendary wine, as rare (around 30,000 bottles per year) as it is sought-after: the inaccessible vintage that only a select few are lucky enough to bring to their lips.

The first known owners of Petrus were the Arnaud family, who owned the estate from the 1830s until the end of the First World War. Its name comes from the locality where the vines are rooted: Saint Pierre (Petrus in Latin). Saint Pierre, holding the keys to paradise, is featured on the label.

Petrus was already recognized as a great wine, but its reputation took off with the arrival of the Moueix family in 1964.

One of their first actions was to expand the vineyard with 5 hectares of vines purchased from Château Gazin, bringing the area of ​​this small estate to 11.5 hectares.

It is the unique terroir that partly explains the exceptional quality of Petrus. The vines are planted on blue clay that absorbs water and releases it drop by drop: the Merlot thrives there.

The vineyard is meticulous throughout the year (thinning, leaf removal), and the entire harvest is picked in two afternoons. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled cement vats, and aging takes place in new barrels.

In 2014, a new winery, designed by architect Jean-Pierre Errath, was built. Petrus is now one of the most sought-after wines on the planet. Its unique terroir and the people who have mastered its excellence make Petrus a unique, exceptional vintage, a legend.