Description
1968 Petrus Pomerol at Arden Fine Wines in London.
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Although the wines of Pomerol have never been classified, all agree that Pétrus is a First Growth among equals.
Petrus dates back to at least 1837, with the name “Petrus” derived from the Latin “Pierre” (Peter), referencing a statue of the apostle on the estate.
Madame Edmond Loubat
Pétrus was considered a minor estate until hotel owner Madame Edmond Loubat gradually acquired it.
She became sole owner by 1945.
Madame Edmond Loubat worked with the negociant Jean-Pierre Moueix from 1943.
She made Pétrus the world’s most renowned and sought-after red wine.
The Moueix family became majority shareholders in 1969.
The terroir of Petrus
Pétrus is an intense and long-lived wine but this has far more to do with its unique terroir than with a heavy hand in the winery.
The Pomerol “plateau” has a 20-hectare area of deep blue clay soils with a high iron content.
The ancient clay subsoil, dating back 40 million years, contrasts with the younger, gravelly soils of surrounding vineyards.
Pétrus lies on more than half of this unique “boutonnière” (“button hole”).
This is a mound at 40 metres above sea level and the highest point of Pomerol.
The gentle slope allows rainwater to run off during wet vintages.
The moisture-rich layers below nurture the vines in dry years.
Almost unique among Bordeaux wines, Pétrus is produced more or less entirely from Merlot.
Older vintages apparently contain up to 20% Cabernet Franc, though.
1968 Petrus Pomerol
The 1968 Petrus Pomerol stands out as a highly sought-after vintage of one of the world’s most expensive and prestigious wines.
While 1968 presented a generally poor vintage for Bordeaux, Petrus emerged as a notable exception.
Producers crafted a respectable wine in a difficult year.
As the highest-rated wine from that year, the 1968 Petrus defies the vintage’s overall reputation.
A bottle in good condition continues to impress as a wine.
