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95 Robert Parker
17 Rene Gabriel
91 Wine Spectator
1948 is another one of those vintages that was largely ignored by the press. Shrewd consumers would be smart to take a look at well-stored bottles of 1948s that might appear in the marketplace. In the past I have reported on some of the other great 1948s, such as Vieux-Chateau-Certan, La Mission-Haut-Brion, and Cheval Blanc, but the 1948 Petrus has fooled me completely in blind tastings. The nose of cedar, leather, herbs, and cassis suggested to me that this was a first-growth Pauillac. The color is still dense, with only a moderate orange hue at the edge. The wine is rich, more austere and lineal than usual, but full-bodied, with considerable flavor, and a spicy, moderately tannic finish. It has peaked, but is clearly capable of lasting another 10-15 years.
Producer
Château Pétrus
Undoubtedly one of Bordeaux’s truly great reds, Pétrus wines can be described as many things, but each vintage is undeniably iconic, legendary and lavish. As one of today’s rarest wines in the world, the château was nearly unheard of a hundred years ago. The estate’s fate changed rather recently, in 1962, only when Jean-Pierre Moueix stared to run, promote and manage the wine. Within ten years, the Moueix family became the sole-owners of Pétrus, and expanded the vineyard, which is known as one of the greatest buys in Pomerol. Today, the 11.5-hectare plot can be found amongst the highest in the appellation, planted with a very high percentage of Merlot (95%), and the rest Cabernet Franc, the varieties benefit from the land’s well-drained clay soils. Pétrus is extremely quality-conscious, from the vineyard to the cellar, their quest for purity propels their powerful yet refined wines. The Grand Vin, is a culmination of the estate’s unique terroir and inimitable style. Pétrus is a majestic array of dark fruits, oriental spices and impeccably integrated oak, making it one of Pomerol’s richest wines. A couple decades’ patience will be amply rewarded.