1980 Château Petrus
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Tasting notes
The 1980 Petrus is a rarely seen off vintage nowadays and this is only my second encounter. Showing moderate bricking, the bouquet is surprisingly fresh with chestnut and peat aromas infusing the slightly diffuse red fruit. There is good definition and it feels less mean than the previous half-bottle. The palate is nicely balanced with a sweet, possibly chaptalized core of red fruit. It is showing more flesh than expected like the 1978 served alongside, though it is undeniably short on the finish. I doubt that I will find a better bottle of the 1980 than this. Tasted at the Petrus dinner at Hide restaurant in London.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The 1980 Petrus is a vintage that I have only tasted from half-bottle. It was never a good vintage and the nose, even for Petrus, is lacking vigor and feel rather mean. There are touches of melted tar on the palate, although the fruit is in serious decline leaving the finish rather raw. I have better memories of the single bottle of 1980 Le Pin. Drink bottles sooner rather than later. Tasted from half-bottle at home.
Bright crimson. Hint of varnish on the nose but vigorous impact. Initially it was a bit light and tart but it developed in the glass and was quite charming and heady by the end. And by no means over the hill. (JR)
Talk about a thrill a second, as well as unprecedented decadence (at least for me), consider the rarity of a flight of six double magnums of Petrus! Because there were not many people at the tasting, there was the possibility of having several large glasses of these wines, making judging them all the more fun. And let's not forget the medical benefit of flushing the fat out of one's arteries with such remarkable juice! The 1980 Petrus turned in a surprisingly strong performance. A roasted herb, melted road tar, and sweet, jammy-scented nose is followed by a rich, medium to full-bodied wine with considerable length. It appears to have become more impressive with age. Could this wine really be superior to the 1981 and 1979? It is fully mature, so drink it over the next decade. The notes for this wine are taken from the description of Series IV - Flight B of the 1995 tasting conducted in Munich by Helga and Hardy Rodenstock. Many years after the tasting from which this note derives allegations were made concerning the authenticity of old and rare bottles of wine sold by Hardy Rodenstock to collectors around the world. The matter has been the subject of numerous articles, litigation and at least one book. Mr. Parker believes that the wines served to him at this tasting were authentic so this note and the others from that specific tasting continue to be posted on eRobertParker.com.
About the producer
Ask any wine-lover to name the world’s greatest fine wines, and the answer will invariably include Pétrus.