2011 Petrus

96 POINTS

Neal Martin - Wine Advocate

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 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

This is elegant, fresh and structured, with its blackberry fruit shining right through the wood. Style trumps power in this wine. —R.V

95 POINTS

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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 POINTS

Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

From 100% Merlot, the wine reached 13.5% alcohol. Floral, boysenberry, peppermint, truffle, cocoa, coffee, spice and kirsch. Soft, pure red cherry with refined tannins and a plush, silky, long finish. Lacking the depth and concentration found in 2009 or 2010, there is ample acidity, structure, freshness, balance, length and a strong sense of purity. 95-96 Pts

95 POINTS

James Suckling

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.

91 POINTS

James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

This sports sweet spice, bitter cherry and light briar notes, with lively, pebbly tannins guiding the finish. Slightly high-pitched notes of blood orange and red currant fill in as well. Delivers range and length, yet lacks the depth of the top wines in this vintage. Best from 2015 through 2025.

Julia Harding MW - JancisRobinson.com

Drink 2022-2040 Another property with a cellar under construction (Jean-Claude Berrouet looked very smart in his personalised hard hat). Harvested 12-22 September, a week earlier than in 2010. 'We were very gentle in 2011', says Olivier Berrouet, since small berries meant that the tannins were actually higher than in 2010 and less ripe (lack of sunshine), so they wanted to extract the tannins earlier, before the alcohol started to climb, leading to the extraction of tougher tannins. The acidity very slightly higher, the alcohol lower. It could evolve to be like the 2001. Deep glossy dark crimson. Warm, restrained hedgerow fruit, a little biscuity note, a little spicy. Really tangy and so full of energy and life, the fruit sings. Very expressive and the oak firmly in the back seat. Juicy and soft at the front and mid palate, though there is a density under there, a firm foundation, an underground concentration. Very very long and real volume building in the mouth. Builds and builds in the mouth. Caressing and long. (JH) 18/20

Bettane & Desseauve - TAST

Grande élégance et suavité délicate, texture raffinée, allonge sereine, avec du fruit et un caractère ample mais vif. "Pour faire du mauvais vin en 2009 et 2010, il fallait le faire exprès ; en 2011, c'était l'inverse!", dit avec malice et justesse Olivier Berrouet... qui a réalisé un beau Petrus sobre, sans violence, construit comme un retour au classicisme après deux millésimes hors normes. 18-19/20