1981 Petrus

BY NEAL MARTIN |&nbsp;OCTOBER 10, 2023Given
my rather desultory score for the 1981 Petrus, a bottle that had a
tincture of TCA, I was able to order a pristine bottle in London that had been
acquired directly from the château, thereby giving me a chance to re-evaluate.<img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.vinous.com/uploads%2F1696603979130-petrus+1981+bottle_copy.jpg">The
1981 has an initial burst of loveliness on the nose, as if this bottle was
doing a little jig, delighted that this off-vintage had been selected. Wild
strawberry mixes with light tobacco leaf and pencil shavings on the nose. The palate
is lighter in style, as you would expect. It is finely balanced, though not
backed up by a great deal of energy or heft. Indeed, it seems to struggle more
in the glass after ten minutes, becoming more loose-knit and slightly acetic.
Yet, this Petrus deserves applause in the context of the growing season. What
is missing in terms of complexity and vigor is compensated in sheer
drinkability and openness. Larger formats might be more interesting, though I
would drink standard-size bottles in the near future. 88/Drink 2023-2030. © 2023, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or re-distributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright, but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism.

1981 Petrus

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