1995 Petrus (750ml)

Vintage: 1995
Format: 750ml
Wine Name: Petrus
Vineyard:
Designation:
Appellation: Pomerol
Producer: Petrus
Varietal:
Type: Red
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Sub-Region:

Tasting note: It is interesting how this wine continues to evolve. Unquestionably one of the vintage's superstars, the 1995 Petrus is taking on a personality similar to the extraordinarily backward, muscular 1975. This is not a Petrus that can be approached in its youth (i.e., the perfect duo of 1989 and 1990). The wine exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color, followed by a knock-out nose of pain grille, jammy black fruits, and roasted coffee. On the palate, it possesses teeth-staining extract levels, massive body, and rich, sweet black fruits buttressed by powerful, noticeable tannin. A formidably endowed wine with layers of extract, this is a huge, tannic, monstrous-sized Petrus that will require a minimum of 10 years of cellaring. Forget all the nonsense about Merlot producing sweet, soft, ready to drink wines, because low yielding, old Merlot vines made in the way of Petrus and other top Pomerols frequently possess as much aging potential as any great Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine in the world. Look for the 1995 Petrus to last for 50+ years. (96pts. Robert Parker)

Tasted: February 1998
Score: 96
Drink: 2007 Through 2050

Tasting note: Saturated red-ruby color. Knockout aromas of black raspberry, melted toffee, minerals and smoky oak. Explosively spicy, mulberry-flavored fruit builds and builds in the mouth. Harmonious acidity gives this extremely rich, large-scaled Petrus great balance for aging. Finishes with substantial but thoroughly ripe tannins and palate-staining length. At this early stage, I rate this wine a hair behind the supernal '90 but ahead of the '89. Most of the '95 Moueix wines I tasted seemed a bit stunted by the bottling, but not this one! (96pts. Stephen Tanzer)

Tasted: June 1998
Score:96
Drink: Drinking

Tasting note: This is like a genie in the bottle. Fascinating yet subtle aromas of blackberry, minerals, fresh flowers and Spanish cedar. Full-bodied, with wonderful layers of ultrafine tannins. It coats your mouth and tantalizes your palate. A gorgeous thing all around. (97pts. JS, Wine Spectator)

Tasted: 2007
Score: 97
Drink: After 2010