Petrus 2004

Pomerol, First Growth

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy
6	75cl Bottle	Case 6	£11,800 per Case	Case	[Add to shopping basket]

Tasting Notes
The 2004 Petrus is not one of the strongest wines of the decade, though it remains a fine Pomerol. The bouquet does not hold back with splendid fruit concentration: floral top notes with pressed violets and shaved black truffles, traits I observed in previous bottles. The palate is gracefully moving into its secondary phase with touches of tobacco and warm gravel infusing the red fruit. However, there is a conservative element to this Petrus that opts to play it safe. You do not feel as if it will evolve into something more, which begs the question whether you should continue cellaring it? I see no harm in pulling bottles now, larger formats later. Score: 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2020-2032 01 July 2020
A modest nose of earthy black fruits and again, a touch of green pepper that lends the wine freshness. An understated palate, ripe blackberry leaf and a touch of brine. Vigorous, well-integrated and harmonious. Good grip. As usual, it is elegance more than power. Medium-bodied. A great wine, though Trotanoy has more expression and nuance. Tasted April 2005. Score: 95 - 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 April 2005
Remarkably red-fruited still on the nose with just a little bit of exotic spice and sweetness: the epitome of luxury and decadence yet it also smells so youthful and vibrant. Firm and dry on the palate, less yielding than I expected from the aroma. Much more tertiary character - undergrowth. Chewy finish but it's warm and satisfying and still has a way to go. Score: 18 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2032 10 March 2014
Sweet ripe plums overlaid with a touch of vanilla. And some lovely sweet nutmeg spice and the merest hint of something meaty starting to show through. Complex and extremely inviting. Subtle, fresh and smooth but not yet velvety - though it’s on the way. (17.5+ Points) Score: 17 - 18 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2010-2024 16 February 2009
The dark plum/ruby-tinged 2004 Petrus possesses high acidity as well as copious amounts of sweet cherries and black currants intermixed with hints of cola, earth, and truffles. Deep, medium-bodied, concentrated, ripe flavors are excruciatingly firm and tannic. This backward, structured, muscular Pomerol requires a decade of cellaring, but it possesses the potential to be the longest lived wine of the vintage, lasting 30-40 years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035. Score: 93 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2035 01 June 2007
Petrus has to take a back seat to Lafleur in this vintage as it does not reveal the potential complexity of that wine. Nevertheless, it exhibits a deep ruby/plum/purple color, superb ripeness and richness, amazing density, moderate tannin, and a long, heady finish. Notions of mulberries, black cherries, licorice, truffles, caramel, and toasty oak emerge from this big Pomerol. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030 Score: 90 - 93 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2030 01 June 2006
Petrus’s 2004 production (3000+ cases) was nearly twice what was achieved in 2003 and 2002. Surprisingly broad, dense, and opulent (a descriptor not often applied to 2004 Bordeaux), it possesses a deep ruby/purple color, terrific purity, and notes of mulberries, sweet cherries, black fruits, scorched earth, Chinese black tea, and a hint of truffles. With full body, moderately high tannin, and impressive depth and length, it should be at its apogee between 2011-2025+. Score: 92 - 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2011-2025 30 April 2005
Deep medium red. Subtly complex aromas of mulberry, red cherry, toffee, caramel, iron and flowers. A bit narrow on entry, then expands in the middle palate without any loss of focus. A very firmly built, vibrant and classy 2004 with a tight mineral core and ineffable spice character. This is by far the most backward 2004 in the Moueix portfolio. Finishes with terrific aromatic persistence and subtlety. This will surely evolve in the direction of toffee and truffle and may ultimately merit an even higher rating. (93+ points) Score: 93 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2007
Good medium-deep red. Captivating aromas of blueberry, flowers, minerals and iron. Round, ripe, creamy and sweet, with impressive volume and richness. Captivating suggestions of mulberry and iron. Broad and sweet on the back half, finishing with serious but very suave tannins and long, slow-mounting fruits and flowers. Score: 92 - 95 Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com 01 May 2005
Offers crushed berries, with chocolate and light vanilla. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit, silky tannins and a caressing texture. Very harmonious and pretty, with a balanced palate. Best after 2008. 2,000 cases made. Score: 93 James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2008+ 31 March 2007
Deep, bright crimson. Relatively light nose - almost timid. Neat concentration of fruit on the palate but no splendour. A little bit of iodine, some digestive biscuits. Only medium weight. Well corseted in terms of sandy tannins. Some notes in the background waiting to develop but this wine may be taking good manners just a stage too far. It will be many years before it grabs our attention, I think. (17+ Points) Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2015-2025 18 August 2005

Tasting Notes

The 2004 Petrus is not one of the strongest wines of the decade, though it remains a fine Pomerol. The bouquet does not hold back with splendid fruit concentration: floral top notes with pressed violets and shaved black truffles, traits I observed in previous bottles. The palate is gracefully moving into its secondary phase with touches of tobacco and warm gravel infusing the red fruit. However, there is a conservative element to this Petrus that opts to play it safe. You do not feel as if it will evolve into something more, which begs the question whether you should continue cellaring it? I see no harm in pulling bottles now, larger formats later.

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2020-2032 01 July 2020

A modest nose of earthy black fruits and again, a touch of green pepper that lends the wine freshness. An understated palate, ripe blackberry leaf and a touch of brine. Vigorous, well-integrated and harmonious. Good grip. As usual, it is elegance more than power. Medium-bodied. A great wine, though Trotanoy has more expression and nuance. Tasted April 2005.

Score: 95 - 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 April 2005

Remarkably red-fruited still on the nose with just a little bit of exotic spice and sweetness: the epitome of luxury and decadence yet it also smells so youthful and vibrant. Firm and dry on the palate, less yielding than I expected from the aroma. Much more tertiary character - undergrowth. Chewy finish but it's warm and satisfying and still has a way to go.

Score: 18

Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2032 10 March 2014

Sweet ripe plums overlaid with a touch of vanilla. And some lovely sweet nutmeg spice and the merest hint of something meaty starting to show through. Complex and extremely inviting. Subtle, fresh and smooth but not yet velvety - though it’s on the way. (17.5+ Points)

Score: 17 - 18

Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2010-2024 16 February 2009

The dark plum/ruby-tinged 2004 Petrus possesses high acidity as well as copious amounts of sweet cherries and black currants intermixed with hints of cola, earth, and truffles. Deep, medium-bodied, concentrated, ripe flavors are excruciatingly firm and tannic. This backward, structured, muscular Pomerol requires a decade of cellaring, but it possesses the potential to be the longest lived wine of the vintage, lasting 30-40 years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035.

Score: 93

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2035 01 June 2007

Petrus has to take a back seat to Lafleur in this vintage as it does not reveal the potential complexity of that wine. Nevertheless, it exhibits a deep ruby/plum/purple color, superb ripeness and richness, amazing density, moderate tannin, and a long, heady finish. Notions of mulberries, black cherries, licorice, truffles, caramel, and toasty oak emerge from this big Pomerol. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030

Score: 90 - 93

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2030 01 June 2006

Petrus’s 2004 production (3000+ cases) was nearly twice what was achieved in 2003 and 2002. Surprisingly broad, dense, and opulent (a descriptor not often applied to 2004 Bordeaux), it possesses a deep ruby/purple color, terrific purity, and notes of mulberries, sweet cherries, black fruits, scorched earth, Chinese black tea, and a hint of truffles. With full body, moderately high tannin, and impressive depth and length, it should be at its apogee between 2011-2025+.

Score: 92 - 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2011-2025 30 April 2005

Deep medium red. Subtly complex aromas of mulberry, red cherry, toffee, caramel, iron and flowers. A bit narrow on entry, then expands in the middle palate without any loss of focus. A very firmly built, vibrant and classy 2004 with a tight mineral core and ineffable spice character. This is by far the most backward 2004 in the Moueix portfolio. Finishes with terrific aromatic persistence and subtlety. This will surely evolve in the direction of toffee and truffle and may ultimately merit an even higher rating. (93+ points)

Score: 93

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2007

Good medium-deep red. Captivating aromas of blueberry, flowers, minerals and iron. Round, ripe, creamy and sweet, with impressive volume and richness. Captivating suggestions of mulberry and iron. Broad and sweet on the back half, finishing with serious but very suave tannins and long, slow-mounting fruits and flowers.

Score: 92 - 95

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com 01 May 2005

Offers crushed berries, with chocolate and light vanilla. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit, silky tannins and a caressing texture. Very harmonious and pretty, with a balanced palate. Best after 2008. 2,000 cases made.

Score: 93

James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2008+ 31 March 2007

Deep, bright crimson. Relatively light nose - almost timid. Neat concentration of fruit on the palate but no splendour. A little bit of iodine, some digestive biscuits. Only medium weight. Well corseted in terms of sandy tannins. Some notes in the background waiting to develop but this wine may be taking good manners just a stage too far. It will be many years before it grabs our attention, I think. (17+ Points)

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2015-2025 18 August 2005

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