2005 Petrus

100 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2005 Petrus is dazzling. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2005 possesses magnificent density from start to finish. An exotic mélange of cedar, blood orange, spicebox, mint and dried flowers leads into a core of deep, concentrated fruit. All the elements meld together seamlessly in a Petrus that simply has it all. Readers fortunate enough to taste it will find a statuesque, monumental Petrus that is both powerful and refined. The 2005 continued to improve as I tasted it into the second day. It is without question one of the standout wines of 2005.

100 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

As so often, Pétrus has the ability to charm and impress, to seduce and overwhelm. This 2005, one of the greatest vintages from this great chateau, is massive and concentrated, with flavors of ripe black figs, chocolate and dark plums. Put that all together and the result is the utmost deliciousness, freshness and elegance. A major wine. Imported by Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix.

98 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The bottle of 2005 Petrus opened at the "Pomerol Comparative Exploration" tasting was unfortunately corked however, I was able to re-taste the wine at a private dinner a few weeks later. It continues to be blessed with a crystalline bouquet, spell-binding purity with ebullient, vivacious red berry fruit struck through with minerals and subtle floral scents. The palate is intense but not full-bodied, quite ferrous as it has been since I first tasted it from barrel. The structure is backward and perhaps broodier, more introspective than I expected and therefore afford this behemoth a few years in bottle, maybe even around 15 years, before reaching for the corkscrew. Maybe say a little prayer that it is not corked!

97 POINTS

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

Offering pure black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, the inky ruby/purple 2005 Petrus is still very young and unyielding, but super-concentrated, powerful, full-bodied and primordial. It is much more backward than the likes of Lafleur, Trotanoy or Hosanna. Nevertheless, it is super-rich, extracted, beautifully balanced and pure. Forget it for another 10-15 years, and drink it over the following half-century. This may well be among the longest-lived wines of 2005.

97 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The Petrus 2005 might not be the cheapest wine that has ever been made, but if somebody else is paying it will blow you away. Unsurprisingly, it is bestowed with a more nuanced bouquet than the Le Pin ’05. It is beautifully defined, crystalline, with vibrant red berry fruit, minerals, iris and smoke. This is utterly profound. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin, perfect acidity, slightly savoury fruit with an iron-rich finish. There is amazing persistence here, a Petrus that has finally decided to join the ranks of the great vintages from this Pomerol estate such as the 1970, 1989 and 1998. Sensational, seductive and serious.

Jancis Robinson MW

Tasted blind. Very savoury and appetising. Round and sweet. A real charmer with such great balance that I swallowed it! Really lovely. No rough edges. Long. Score: 19/20

Jancis Robinson MW

Sweet, very ripe fruit on the nose. Quite tough acidity and dry tannins on the finish. Hard work at the moment – perhaps beginning to close up. Falls away on the finish. Score: 17/20

Jancis Robinson MW

Dark blackish ruby. Spicy, ripe, dense and complex on the nose. Really a very remarkable wine with masses of ripe fruit but in a suitable corset and with so much density and potential. Refined tannins and a hugely ambitious wine. This one will run and run. Very lively as well as being sweet and sleek. So clean and fresh on the end. Score: 19.5/20