Description

Located on top of a 20-hectare (49-acre) island mound, the Petrus boutonnière or buttonhole, the topsoil and the subsoil beneath Petrus’ original vineyards consists of a high percentage of iron-rich clay that differs from neighbouring vineyards where the soil is a mixture of gravel-sand or clay-sand.

The average age of the vines exceed 40 years. Grapes are hand harvested over two to three days, although the vineyard’s small size permits harvesting to be completed in one day if necessary.

A severe pre-assemblage vat selection is carried out and certain parcels are rejected from the Grand Vin. The young wine is aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 12 to 16 months. An average year might yield at most 30 000 bottles.