2003 Petrus
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2003 Petrus was born in a difficult vintage for Pomerol, although its blue clay a.k.a “smectite” soils probably gave Christian Moueix and Jean-Claude Berrouet a slight advantage given its propensity to retain moisture and prevent hydric stress. That said, I would not mark it down as a top tier Petrus. After a timid opening it settles down with attractive mulberry, wild strawberry and clove scents, quite rich but not overpowering. I would argue that it is not as detailed as other vintages. The palate is very well balanced and surprisingly well defined considering the heat of that summer. Rich and opulent for Petrus (maybe the most opulent that Jean-Claude Berrouet ever made) and yet it retains a sense of symmetry and freshness on the finish that I think is unique to this Pomerol. Who says there is no such thing as terroir? Tasted in London with a Bordeaux merchant.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
An early September harvest in this hot year produced a 2003 that has reached full maturity. It offers notes of roasted coffee, melted chocolate, figs and black cherry jam. There are some rustic tannins in the finish, but this expansive, rich Petrus displays far more intensity and complexity than most expected given the difficulties in Pomerol in 2003. It should be consumed over the next 4-6 years.
Dark crimson. This unusually dense and heavy wine had a note of cloves that put me off. It was clearly very different from the rest of the line-up – very rich with some oak influence in evidence. Thick and flashy, it tasted so sweet there was a suggestion of cocoa powder. I usually respond to Petrus's opulence but not in this wine which seemed the most obviously 2003-like of the line-up and lacked refreshment. It was certainly very opulent and flattering but had a sour, drying finish. (JR)
Slightly bricky garnet. Sweetly developed aroma of dried fruit and spices with a touch of herbaceousness too – and just a very slight hint of mint. Complex and unusual, perhaps odd? A sort of minty sweetness that reminds me of aged Coonawarra Cab. Much drier on the palate than I expected. Tannins are finer grained than most but relatively dry. Then it comes back juicy at the very end. A conundrum that really needs a whole evening to mull over. (JH)
About the producer
Ask any wine-lover to name the world’s greatest fine wines, and the answer will invariably include Pétrus.