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Pétrus 2011

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot

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Label

Tasting Notes

A dense ruby/purple-tinged color and restrained but intriguing aromas of kirsch, raspberry jam, wood spice, and mulberries are found in this full-bodied Petrus. An undeniable success in 2011, it is rich, layered and pure with light to moderate tannin, but seems slightly less muscular and tannic compared to its stablemate, Trotanoy. Forget it for a few years and drink it over the following 25 years. Made from 100% Merlot, it tips the scales at 13.5% alcohol. In short, it is typically open-knit and already showing very well. This is quite opulent.

95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (212), May 2014

The 2011 Petrus has plenty of fruit on the nose, elegant and floral, redcurrant and raspberry fruit, a touch of crushed stone and pressed rose petal. The palate is medium-bodied with a rich and quite extravagant style of the finish, lightly spiced with a rounded, velvety-smooth and quite dense finish. Maybe it just conveys a little more winemaking that the terroir at the moment? Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. 2022 - 2040

92
Neal Martin, vinous.com, April 2022

This is tight and firm, with blueberry and blackberry character, and hints of sweet tobacco. Some wet earth, too. Black olives. Full body and very tight, with ultra-fine tannins and a fresh finish. Powerful and muscular. Try after 2023.

95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, January 2014

A wine that needs no introduction from us. Possibly the most famous wine on Planet Earth. Olivier Berrouet has been in charge here since January 2008 after 4 years at Cheval Blanc. His father (who was winemaker at Petrus for 4 decades) and Christian Moueix are consultants. 100% Merlot on clay soil at the heart of the plateau of Pomerol. Very limited availability (of course). About 30000 bottles will be produced as usual. A beautiful nose here that leaps out of the glass. Lovely purity and freshness. Not a heavyweight Petrus but a wine that is harmonious and elegant with a velvety mouthfeel and long, lingering red fruits. Olivier compares this to the 2001 vintage but with a little more structure. He describes 2011 "sensitive" and a wine that didn't need to be extracted but treated gently.

95+
Farr Vintners, March 2012

Black cherry, damsons, cassis show on the nose and give a lovely complexity on the palate. There is a supple fleshiness on the mid palate ripe rounded tannins that support but do not override the fruit sweetness. It feels lighter towards the back the freshness giving the finish an elegant charm.

93/96
Derek Smedley MW, April 2012

Pétrus bucked the trend in Bordeaux this year, by producing slightly higher yields (37 hectolitres per hectare) than in 2010. In a difficult year, Olivier Berrouet says that he and his team "made the right decisions" and I agree. This is a lighter, more manicured Pétrus with polished tannins, fresh acidity and lots of incense and sweet oak on the nose. Understated and fine-boned with appealing grace and balance. 10+ years.

96
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2012

A Pétrus with poise and finesse. Certainly not a blockbuster although deceptive tannic frame under the silky texture. Fresh and energetic on the palate. Plenty of juicy fruit harvested at a perfect pitch.

18.5
James Lawther MW, Decanter.com, April 2012
Read more tasting notes...

Harvested between September 12-27, the fruit-driven 2011 Petrus is atypically forward and already appealing. It reveals lots of mulberry and dark cherry fruit along with surprising tannin. However, the latter component does not interfere with the wine's classic, structured style. Tipping the scales at 13.5% natural alcohol, it is made from 100% Merlot and is aged in 55% new oak. An excellent to outstanding Petrus (although much lighter than the 2010, 2009 and 2008), it should be drinking well within 2-4 years and last for 15-20.

90/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (200), April 2012

The 2011 Petrus has a very refined, perhaps slightly introverted bouquet with extraordinary purity. It has quite amazing precision and lifted with black cherries, raspberry and a touch of vanilla. It is very intense, perhaps more like 2009 at this stage than 2010. The palate is medium-bodied with a powerful entry. There is a touch of spice on the entry and very intense fruit. The tannins are tensile, lending this Petrus edginess and minerality. This has "classic" Petrus written all over it. It is not quite up there with the 2009 or 2010, but it's not far off. Tasted April 2012.

95/97
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2012

This is very racy and long with full body, silky tannins and an intense minerally, citrus rind character. It lasts for minutes. Goes to a pleasant bitterness. Dark chocolate too. Muscular with tension.

93/94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2012
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.