Petrus is one of the most extraordinary paradoxes in the wine world: the most expensive Bordeaux red never officially classified in any hierarchy. The estate covers just 11.4 hectares in Pomerol, on the right bank of the Dordogne, where a distinctive domed plateau of blue clay gives the vines stress and concentration that no engineering can replicate. The Moueix family, who have managed Petrus since 1945, harvest exclusively by hand, often in the afternoon when dew has evaporated, to avoid any dilution.
100% Merlot: The Ultimate Expression of Right Bank Power
Petrus is planted almost entirely with Merlot — an unusual choice even on the right bank, where Merlot typically blends with Cabernet Franc. The clay soils stress the vine roots and produce grapes of phenomenal richness, with aromas of black truffle, ripe plum, roasted coffee, chocolate and iron minerality. In great years — 1947, 1961, 1964, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2000 and 2012 — the wine achieves a density and layered complexity that collectors place among the finest ever produced. Annual production rarely exceeds 2,500 cases.
Petrus Prices and Where to Buy
The secondary market price for Petrus from a recognised vintage typically ranges from €3,500 to €8,000 per bottle, with exceptional years like 1947 or 1982 far exceeding those figures. Scarcity, consistent 100-point scores and strong Asian demand have driven prices steadily upward. Authentic bottles should always be purchased from specialist merchants with documented provenance. The estate has no official second wine; the closest alternative is Le Pin, its equally mythical Pomerol neighbour, though that presents its own supply constraints.
