The 2016 Petrus has an extrovert bouquet of peppermint- and star-anise-tinged red fruit that turns more licorice-scented with time. This is a flamboyant, almost extrovert bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, a superb bead of acidity and a judicious sprinkling of white pepper toward the harmonious finish. On the palate at least, it feels more linear than its peers, but there is incontrovertible class from start to finish. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. August 2020

Opaque purple-black colored, the 2016 Petrus slips effortlessly out of the glass with sanguine, seductive notes of kirsch, warm black plums, blueberry compote, red roses, Ceylon tea, violets, dark chocolate-covered cherries, licorice and cinnamon stick with wafts of iron ore, pencil lead, unsmoked cigars and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, profound and absolutely edifying on the palate, the densely packed, beautifully perfumed red and blue fruit layers possess a charge like defibrillators stimulating your heart to beat faster, each delivering achingly subtle floral and spice sparks, perfectly framed by very firm, very grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with incredible length and taking you to depths that extend to a provocative ferrous undercurrent. Stunning. November 2018

This is very fleshy and deep with so much texture and richness. It’s full-bodied yet fresh. The tobacco, white truffle, licorice and dark fruit are so impressive. It’s so exuberant and wild. It just goes on for ever. Spellbinding. Very muscular and powerful. Agile and energetic. Please give this time. Needs eight to ten years. Try from 2029. Dezember 2019