Petrus is the Pomerol everyone knows by name and few have ever opened: a single grand vin of pure Merlot from a small plateau of blue clay on Bordeaux's Right Bank. Here you will find vintages from 1989 onwards, in bottle and magnum, including recent years such as 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020.
Château Petrus: the blue clay heart of Pomerol
Petrus sits on the highest point of the Pomerol plateau, on a small "buttonhole" of blue clay. Geologists call it smectite. This dense clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, holding water through the summer and releasing it slowly to the vines. In a region where drought can stress Merlot, that steady supply gives the fruit its depth and the wine its famously smooth, almost creamy texture.
The vineyard covers 11.4 hectares. Until 2010 it also held a few percent of Cabernet Franc, but those vines were pulled up after the 2010 harvest, and Petrus has been 100% Merlot ever since. There is one wine only: no second label and no white.
From Madame Loubat to the Moueix family: the history of Petrus
The estate can be traced back to at least 1837. Its first taste of fame came at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1878, where Petrus won a gold medal. The real turning point was Edmonde Loubat, who bought into the estate from 1925 and became sole owner in 1945. She was convinced Petrus deserved a place beside the greatest wines of the Médoc and priced it accordingly. The label showing St Peter holding the keys of heaven dates from her time.
She made Jean-Pierre Moueix, the Libourne négociant, the exclusive agent for the wine, and his family became majority owners in 1969. After his death in 2003, Petrus passed to his son Jean-François Moueix and his family. In 2018 Alejandro Santo Domingo bought a 20% stake. In the cellar, Olivier Berrouet has made the wine since 2008, taking over from his father Jean-Claude Berrouet, who oversaw more than four decades of Petrus vintages.
Petrus vintages to look for, from 1989 to 2020
The range here runs from classic mature years such as 1989, 1990 and 1998 through 2005 and 2009 to the modern era of 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020, with magnums of 2000 and 2019. Some bottles come in their original individual wooden case (CBI). That is worth having if you are building a cellar or buying a birth-year wine.
Young Petrus is dense and dark: black cherry, plum and cocoa over firm but velvety tannins. With time it turns towards truffle, leather, cedar and forest floor, and great vintages keep evolving for decades. Serve at 16 to 18°C. Decant younger vintages for an hour or two. Stand older bottles upright the day before and pour gently off the sediment.
To place Petrus among its neighbours, explore our selection of Pomerol wine, cross the border to Saint-Émilion, or browse the wider range of Bordeaux wine and fine wine.
Frequently asked questions about Petrus wine
Is it Petrus or Château Petrus?
Both are used. The estate calls its wine simply "Petrus", without "Château" or an accent, but you will still see Château Pétrus on many older labels and lists.
What grape is Petrus made from?
Merlot only, since the Cabernet Franc was removed after the 2010 harvest. Older vintages may contain a small share of Cabernet Franc.
Is Petrus a first growth?
No. Pomerol has never had an official classification, so Petrus carries no rank. It is nonetheless traded and judged alongside the Médoc first growths.
Why is Petrus so expensive?
A small vineyard, a single wine and worldwide demand. The vintage, the format and the condition of the bottle drive the price of any particular Petrus.
Is La Fleur-Pétrus the same as Petrus?
No. Château La Fleur-Pétrus is a separate Pomerol estate with its own vineyards and its own style. It is not included on this page.
How long can Petrus age?
Great vintages can develop for 30 to 50 years in a cool, dark, steady cellar. Lighter years drink well sooner.