Pétrus 2000

Characteristics and Tasting Advice for Pétrus 2000

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep purple hue with violet highlights

Nose

The bouquet displays remarkable complexity, dominated by aromas of black truffle. These are joined by intense notes of dark fruit (blackberry, black cherry), accompanied by nuances of licorice and blackberry. With aeration, the nose develops toward touches of cedar, graphite, and forest floor, enhanced by subtle floral notes of rose and violet.

Palate

On the palate, this wine impresses with its fullness and sumptuous character. The texture is luscious and velvety, supported by powerful tannins of remarkable finesse. The palate unfolds a rich aromatic spectrum combining dark fruits, spices, minerality, and chocolate nuances. The exceptionally long finish lingers elegantly with notes of pepper and spiced chocolate.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Pétrus 2000 pairs magnificently with noble red meats such as roasted or braised dry-aged beef, herb-roasted leg of lamb, as well as game preparations. Mushroom- and truffle-based dishes particularly enhance its earthy character. It also pairs brilliantly with duck breast or richly sauced meat dishes.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve this Pétrus 2000 at a temperature of around 15.5°C. Decanting for two to four hours allows the wine to open fully and express the full breadth of its aromatic complexity. This vintage can be enjoyed until around 2050, reflecting an exceptional aging potential.

A legendary Pomerol at the pinnacle of its appellation

The estate

Château Pétrus embodies the absolute excellence of the Pomerol appellation in Bordeaux. Owned by the Moueix family since the gradual acquisition initiated in 1945 by Jean-Pierre Moueix, the estate is now held by Jean-François Moueix and his children, with a minority stake held by Alejandro Santo Domingo since 2018. The vineyard spans 11.5 hectares at the highest point of the Pomerol plateau. Pétrus stands apart thanks to its unique terroir of blue clay, rare and inimitable, which gives its wines an incomparable personality. Ranked among the most prestigious wines in the world, Pétrus makes every bottle a sought-after collector’s item.

The vineyard

The Pétrus vineyard occupies a privileged position on the Pomerol plateau, at around 40 meters above sea level. Its exceptional terroir rests on a unique soil of deep blue clay, forty million years old, found nowhere else in such proportions. This smectite clay has remarkable water-retention properties, naturally regulating the vines’ water supply during the summer season. The vineyard is organized into twelve distinct plots, planted at a density of 6,600 to 7,000 vines per hectare. The average vine age reaches 40 to 45 years, with the oldest dating back to 1952. Vineyard management favors environmentally respectful practices, including mechanical tilling, cover cropping, and meticulous hand harvesting.

The vintage

The 2000 vintage in Pomerol benefited from exceptional climatic conditions. The growing season unfolded in a steady and balanced manner, crowned by an ideal September—warm and dry—allowing optimal ripening of the Merlots. The grapes reached levels of concentration and phenolic maturity rarely seen, even by Pétrus’ exacting standards. This year stands among the greatest vintages of the twentieth century for Bordeaux, giving the wines monumental structure and outstanding aging potential.

Vinification and aging

The Pétrus 2000 harvest was carried out by hand over a concentrated two- to three-day period, ensuring grapes were picked at optimal ripeness. Each plot was vinified separately in temperature-controlled concrete tanks, allowing gentle extraction of tannins and color. After malolactic fermentation was completed in December 2000, a rigorous selection of the finest lots was made to compose the grand vin. Aging took place over 18 to 20 months in French oak barrels, with 50% new oak and 50% second-fill barrels, bringing complexity and structure without masking the expression of the terroir.

Grape variety

100% Merlot