Chateau Petrus 2012

JAMES SUCKLING: "This shows fabulous length with a chocolate, berry and mineral undertone. Licorice and currants too. Full body yet refined with seamless tannins. Goes on for minutes. It shows such amazing length and elegance. Depth. Phenomenal structure here, especially for the vintage. Reminds me of the 1998 or 1971, which were structured yet very fine."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Truffle, licorice and dark cherry aromas create the perfume. The wine is rich, full bodied and concentrated with all the right stuff. That is, if you like fresh, sweet, juicy, ripe, sweet plums and black cherries, coupled with freshness and sensuous, silky, velvet textures. This could get even better as it develops."

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles Granat, recht satt in der Mitte, rubiner Rand. Kein anspringendes Bouquet, eher zurückhaltend, viel rote Beeren zu Beginn, Johannisbeeren und Himbeeren in jeglicher Form, erst im zweiten Ansatz kommt Cassis zum Zug, das Faszinierende sind die frischen Kräutertöne: Eisenkraut, Minze, dazu Eukalyptusspuren, alles ist mit einer delikaten Süs se unterlegt. Im Gaumen konzen triert, mehr fleischig denn füllig, kompakt im Innern, Ingwer, Kokos, eine grosse Mineralität zeigend, extrem lang. Kein Rubens-Pétrus, sondern eher ein DRC-Pétrus. Vom Rotbeerigen, Pfeffrigen her eine Art 1995 in einer perfekteren Form für mich. Die Berrouets (Vater und Sohn) finden, dass er eher dem 1998er gleicht."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat. Zunächst ein traumhaft schönes Bukett mit reifer roter Frucht, sehr feinen Tanninen, dezenter Würze. Am Gaumen zwar elegant, aber auch kraftvoll und komplex: Schokolade, Pralinen, kandierte rote Früchte. Dabei von wunderbarer Frische. Hat Schmelz, eine leicht cremige Konsistenz. Feine mineralische Noten, exotisch feine Würze, perfekte Frucht mit einem Hauch von Likör, aber gleichzeitig auch feine Säure. Perfekte Tannintextur und feine Struktur. Ein fantastisch reifer, makelloser Merlot at its best."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Another great wine from Pétrus, this has enormous depths without losing any of the fruit or freshness of Merlot in 2012. It's massive while also elegant, weighty, richly full-bodied and also structured. At this stage the wine does show some signs of wood aging, which will diminish as it ages. The fruitiness is deceptive because this wine demands aging. Drink from 2024."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting, the 2012 Petrus demonstrated a forward, fruit-driven, ripe raspberry and wild strawberry bouquet underneath which lies graphite and forest floor aromas. It seems refined, understated, nonchalant even. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly savory opening, as if there was a tiny drop of Cabernet Franc. The tannins are fine but firm, the red fruit infused with cooked meat, black pepper and sage notes, although I was anticipating a finish armed with more body. That may well develop in time, yet it remains a regal Pomerol that will probably merit a higher score with bottle age, hence the plus-sign against the score. Tasted January 2016."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2012 La Fleur Petrus is a stunning Pomerol that’s certainly up in the top tier of the vintage. Incredibly perfumed and floral, with notions of black cherries, raspberries, dried flowers, forest floor, saddle leather, and cedar, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful balance, ripe tannin, and an ethereal, elegant texture that carries ample flavor authority with no sensation of weight. Drink this incredibly fine, elegant, and nuanced beauty any time over the coming three decades."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Looks much more evolved than Le Pin tasted alongside. Glowing ruby. Sweet and opulent with a really rich undertow. Not one of Petrus’s most glorious vintages but a lovely long, confident finish."

WINE SPECTATOR: "One of the successes in this vintage, with alluring bay and tobacco notes already emerging from the core of lush plum, raspberry and red licorice flavors. There's a nice thread of plum pit and charcoal for spine, with alluring earth tones through the finish. —Non-blind La Fleur-Pétrus vertical (December 2015). Best from 2018 through 2028. 2,833 cases made."