The vineyard is reported to have been founded sometime around 110-135 AD and has remained almost continuously under cultivation until today, making it not only Bordeaux’s oldest but also France’s most ancient plantation still producing grapes for commercial sale.
It was originally owned by the Arnaud family and first appeared in records around the mid 18th century where it was ranked alongside other highly regarded Pomerol applications, such as Château Trotanoy and Vieux Château Certan.
After winning a gold medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1878, the selling price of Pétrus rose to that of a Médoc second growth, the first of the Pomerol wines to do so.
The 1855 Classification of Bordeaux rated Pétrus as a second growth which means it was not included in the original First Growth group, but later acquired enough prestige to be ranked.
At the turn of the 20th century, it was considered one of Bordeaux’s leading properties.
The estate is currently owned by Jean-François Moueix and his children, whose family has been involved in winemaking for generations.
The grapes are cultivated organically and harvested entirely by hand at a low yield that produces intense, concentrated wines with no added sulphur whatsoever during fermentation or maturation.
It matures exclusively in oak barrels from its own cooperage where it spends 12 and 16 months on average before being bottled without filtration so as to preserve all its original characteristics.
The ground around the vineyard is mostly clay with a high percentage of iron and gravel, which makes it unique from its neighbouring vineyards and offers excellent drainage.
Pétrus has grown 100% Merlot grapes since 2010 and produces around 30,000 bottles per year. The wine is produced from vines that have an average age of 45 years old, which are planted on Pomerol’s finest gravel-loam soil with clay subsoil known for its excellent drainage capabilities.
The character of the wine is best described as strong but elegant.
Pétrus is a full-bodied and powerful wine, offering great ageing potential. It reveals notes of plums and dark berries with hints of liquorice and chocolate in an open bouquet that only gets better over time.
With patience, you will be able to discover more complex flavours such as truffles or cedarwood through to a long and persistent finish.
