TIME TO BUY?
2020 Petrus - 100 points WK and over 47% down from peak
There's no denying that the 2020 Pétrus is a brilliant achievement and indeed one of the very finest vintages at this address over the last two decades.
William Kelley, robertparker.com, April 2023
2020 Petrus
£8,650 per 3 bottle case in bond
To quote Yogi Berra ‘Is this Déja-vu all over again?’ Before you go googling who Yogi Berra is, take a look at the below!
I am aware that we have been highlighting the value offered by Petrus in the current market, with some consistency, but, frankly, the numbers seem to suggest that right now is a great time to be purchasing if you have faith in the future of the fine wine market. This lack of clarity over when the market might recover seems to have stymied a number of clients, who are waiting on sidelines, but, as with most markets, when the data shows positive movement, the most opportune moment to purchase is often behind you. All we can do is to keep showing you the detail and allow you to make up your own mind.
Today, we can offer a three-bottle case of 2020 Petrus at £8,650 per 3 in bond, a wine that William Kelley describes as being ‘one of the very finest vintages at this address over the last two decades’ on robertparker.com, as he awards it 100 points.
At its peak in February 2023, Liv-ex valued it at £16,398 per 3 bottle case, and today they value it at £9,000 per 3, which accurately reflects where UK listings begin. Indeed, the cheapest single bottle offer in Europe is £3,000 per single bottle in bond.
Our offer price is just over a whopping 47% down from peak!
Here is the Liv-ex chart, priced as always per 12 bottles in bond.
And here are the reviews:
100 points, William Kelley, robertparker.com (April 2023)
As I observed to Olivier Berrouet, it's hardly very original to find a wine critic extolling the virtues of this Pomerol reference point; and yet, whether one likes it or not, there's no denying that the 2020 Pétrus is a brilliant achievement and indeed one of the very finest vintages at this address over the last two decades. Unwinding in the glass with a deep bouquet of dark berries, cherries and cassis mingled with hints of exotic spices, violets and vine smoke, it's full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with huge depth at the core, exquisitely refined tannins and a youthfully reserved, even restrained profile despite its power and size. This serious, classically proportioned Pétrus is a monument in the making. 2030-2070
99 points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com (December 2022)
The 2020 Petrus is a wine of pure and total sensuality. Silky, creamy tannins wrap around a core of dark red and black fruit. A wine with explosive depth but no hard edges and mind-blowing balance, the 2020 is so alluring, even in the early going. Time in the glass brings out lifted floral top notes that add freshness. What strikes most is the elegance of the tannins. I don't think I have ever tasted a young Petrus like the 2020. Technical Director Olivier Berrouet gave the 2020 a bit more time on the skins than is normal. Aging was 17-18 months in oak. Let's cut to the chase. The 2020 Petrus is profoundly great. 2030-2070
98 points, Neal Martin, vinous.com (December 2022)
The 2020 Petrus was bottled in June 2020. "I feel the wine changed a lot since primeur, and since bottling," commented winemaker Olivier Berrouet, "gaining an extra layer of complexity and more subtlety, the tannins are more polished. You still feel the tannins that have improved in barrel, but it needs aging." It has a spectacular nose that does not hold back: layers of intense black cherry, blueberry, crushed violet and incense rocketing from the glass and almost overwhelming the senses. The palate is medium-bodied yet fills the mouth, almost engulfing it with a payload of concentrated blackberry, cassis, and cracked black pepper. This is extremely harmonious on the finish. It's more peppery on the finish than I recall. Likewise, it deserves more cellaring than I previously envisaged. Fabulous. 2030-2070
Neal Martin tasted again, blind, at the annual Southwold tasting and wrote a more clipped note as follows:
96 points, Neal Martin, vinous.com (November 2024)
The 2020 Petrus has a pure, delineated and focused bouquet with black cherries, rose petal and crushed stone scents. The palate is medium-bodied and mineral-driven, with finely chiseled tannins and a sapid, marine-influenced finish that retains superb tension. Quite regal. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2029-2060
It has always scored very highly with Jane Anson (98 points) and Lisa Perrotti-Brown (100 points).
Whichever critic you follow or read, there is consensus here which confirms the 2020 Petrus belongs in the upper group of vintages over the last 20 years. So, there is the data – as ever it is up to you to decide whether a 47% reduction from peak and the sharpest offer price in Europe for bottles or cases renders this a compelling ‘Time to buy?’