Full ruby-red. Wonderfully vibrant aromas of cherry, raspberry, minerals, iron and flowers. Silky on entry, then lush and sweet in the middle. This insidiously fills the mouth without any impression of overripeness or heaviness thanks to its superb inner-palate energy and aromatic character. Finishes with suave, noble, broad tannins and great subtle, scented persistence, with the fresh mineral and floral components giving lift to the back end. Not an obvious blockbuster but communicates an impression of brooding power. This classic Petrus should put on weight during the remainder of its elevage and for decades to come.

Offering pure black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, the inky ruby/purple 2005 Petrus is still very young and unyielding, but super-concentrated, powerful, full-bodied and primordial. It is much more backward than the likes of Lafleur, Trotanoy or Hosanna. Nevertheless, it is super-rich, extracted, beautifully balanced and pure. Forget it for another 10-15 years, and drink it over the following half-century. This may well be among the longest-lived wines of 2005.