Pétrus 1964

Handsome magnum. Excellent level, wine was almost touching cork. Decanted 1,5 hours. Very impressive, youthful, vibrant colour. Open and sound nose with tobacco, exotic spices and mushrooms.
Almost too sweet and round on palate. Very gentle and harmonious Pétrus. Layers of flavours. Acidity and tannins are well integrated. Dangerously easyto drink. Lots of intense fruit underneath. After an hour in glass it became even slightly more full and tender. Has very good grip and length at the end. This is really very fine.

The 1964 Petrus marks the debut of maestro Jean-Claude Berrouet, fresh out of his oenological studies and straight into his first vintage. Therefore, this wine is a strong candidate for “Greatest Debut Ever”. All three bottles have been remarkable, at least the ones not corked, which sadly includes two examples over the years. It is one of the deepest Petrus wines in terms of color, its opacity indicating the concentration. The bouquet is a cornucopia of red and black fruit laced with liquorish and Indian ink, the richness evidenced by the glycerin that floods this wine. The palate is very rich and opulent, more so than say the 1959 or 1961 Petrus, very succulent and pure, vibrant and youthful with velvety tannins and profound depth. If wine were seen as say a terraced house, the 1964 Petrus is a “mansion” of flavors and nuances, touches of thyme and black truffle emerging on the finish. Well-preserved bottles will continue to amaze and leave you dumbfounded by its brilliance and the fact that it was conjured by a lad straight out of college. Tasted at the Petrus dinner at the Épure restaurant in Hong Kong.

The 60’s trinity in this flight was just remarkable. Black fruit and licorice on the nose. It opens with a playful richness on the palate, succulent, vibrant, time defyingly youthful. A sheer cornucopia of flavors and layers, truffles and thyme from palate opening to mid palate. Then a marvelous interplay of spices and an almost light-hearted earthiness. Then plums, truffles and chocolate, a sheer kaleidoscope of palate pampering and appeal on the effulgent finish. 98 Points

Enjoyed during dinner at Domaine de Chevalier with other excellent wines in April 2014. Seemed like bottle kept under pristine conditions - youthful dark color, almost black ink, powerful, extraordinary complexity, structure, depth and length. Despite 50 years on its birth certificate already, I'm pretty sure this wine will easily live for another 50 years!! Heavenly stuff.