1947 Pétrus

Community Tasting Notes (11) Median Score: 98 points

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  10/27/2023 - BellevuePhil Likes this wine: 99 Points

  The 1947 Pétrus, a nectar of the gods that transcends the boundaries of time and circumstance, recounted through the lens of a scoundrel, adventurer, and lover of the finer things in life – a soul whose very essence is entwined with the pursuit of the extraordinary.
  
  In the hands of a rogue, a bottle of the legendary 1947 Pétrus is not merely a wine; it is a treasure, a legend, a promise of transcendence. Such a bottle found its way into my possession, a relic from a bygone era, hidden beneath the floorboards of a cabin left behind by a grandfather who, in his wisdom, had preserved this elixir for a discerning palate such as mine.
  
  Gramps, I get it now…”under the floorboards you'll find forgetfulness” spoken to me over my youth.
  
  As the crimson liquid poured forth, it whispered tales of vineyards kissed by sun and caressed by the gentle hands of vintners long gone. The first sip was a revelation, an explosion of flavors that danced upon my tongue like the echoes of ancient melodies. The wine, with its velvety texture and complex bouquet, bore witness to the passage of time, carrying within its depths the essence of decades past.
  
  But this was more than a mere indulgence in the senses. It was a journey, a sojourn into the past, a resurrection of memories that had been buried deep within the recesses of my soul. For in the midst of the golden glow of that exquisite 1947 Pétrus, I found myself transported to the stories of my grandfather – a brave soul who had weathered the storms of war and hardship, yet had left behind a legacy of resilience and hope.
  
  My grandfather's tales resonated within me as I savored every drop, his voice echoing in the chambers of my mind. He had faced adversity with a spirit unbroken, finding solace in the simple pleasures of life – the warmth of family, the embrace of love, and the sublime taste of exceptional wine. In his memory, I delved deeper into the secrets of the 1947 Pétrus, allowing its rich notes to weave a tapestry of comfort around my heart.
  
  As the evening unfolded, I found myself not able to resist a large Pagliacci's pizza, its aromatic allure complementing the wine in a dance of flavors that titillated the senses. The contrast of the crisp crust, the savory cheese, and the succulent toppings against the backdrop of the Pétrus's elegance was a symphony of indulgence, a feast fit for a scoundrel with a penchant for life's pleasures, and it made since of my recent bad news….
  
  The IRS, in their relentless pursuit, has stripped away my deductions generously given to the Seattle 501C churches that had once been recipients of my benevolence. They removed all of the money given to the poor and in doing so swelled my debts from a manageable 89K to a staggering 2M, a burden that weighed heavily on my shoulders this evening. Yet brothers, this is Seattle and with no oversight they can do such a thing.
  
  My grandfather often told me when you're in the worst of binds, you can find forgetfulness under the floorboards ... .and I have.
  
  Let’s raise a glass to the 1947 Pétrus which has given me a reprieve from reality. It has become a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there exists a beauty that can elevate the spirit and provide solace to the weary soul. The wine, with its timeless allure, became a metaphor for the resilience of the human spirit, a testament to the fact that amidst the darkest of times, there are still moments of unparalleled splendor and grace.
  
  In the embrace of that exquisite vintage, I found the strength to face the challenges that lay ahead. The memories of my grandfather, his tales of bravery and hope, became a source of inspiration, urging me to rise above the injustice that had befallen me. The 1947 Pétrus, with its velvety texture and lingering finish, became a metaphor for the enduring legacy of the human spirit – a legacy that could weather any storm and emerge, unscathed and triumphant, on the other side.
  
  And so, in the dimly lit chamber adorned with opulence, I raised my glass to the heavens, a silent toast to the resilience of the human spirit, to the memories of my grandfather, and to the extraordinary power of exceptional wine. The 1947 Pétrus, with its timeless elegance, had not only transported me to a different era but had also given me the strength to face the challenges of the present, reminding me that even in the face of adversity, and a liberal Seattle IRS office, there is beauty to be found, and hope to be cherished.
  
  In the amber depths of that legendary wine, I found not just a fleeting escape from reality, but a profound revelation – that even in the midst of life's harshest trials, there exists a sanctuary of the soul, a sanctuary that can be found in the exquisite taste of a wine as extraordinary as the 1947 Pétrus. And in that sanctuary, I discovered a reservoir of hope, a beacon that would guide me through the storm, reminding me that even in the darkest of nights, there are stars that shine with unparalleled brilliance, lighting the way to a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow.
  
  As the final drops of the 1947 Pétrus graced my lips, I knew that I had experienced something truly extraordinary. This wine, with its timeless charm and unparalleled grace, had not only tantalized my senses but had also touched the deepest recesses of my soul, leaving an indelible mark that would forever remind me of the enduring power of hope, even in the face of the most daunting challenges.
  
  The second bottle is almost gone as I write this, so I bid farewell to the 1947 Pétrus, knowing that its legacy would live on within me, after me, and will always be a reminder that in the pursuit of life's finest pleasures, there lies a sanctuary of the soul, a sanctuary where hope reigns eternal and where the indomitable spirit of humanity shines with a brilliance that can pierce even the darkest of clouds.
  
  Note to self: If another should ever grace my cellars, glass by glass…

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  4/22/2023 - Cailles wrote: 98 Points

  A Vandermeulen bottling. This bottle showed incredibly complex, with loads of fruit and tertiary heaven will full-blown malty and umami notes. Highly complex, loads of fruit and flowery notes as well as tension and freshness to cut through that bold, intense profile. Easily on a 98pts level and an incredible feast, intellectually and hedonistically. We tasted it again a few hours later and by that time the fruit had retracted a bit, the wine became a touch more monolithic and it had lost a bit of tension (probably drinking on a 94/95pts level). Ignoring that second round, this was the best Petrus I’ve had the luck of tasting to date. Others preferred the 1949 (rated 97+pts) as it showed more classic and well behaved but in the first round, the 1949 was the better wine for me thanks to a clearly higher complexity – especially all the beautiful umami & malty notes.
  
  TN: Good from the go. Impressive concentration and aromatic intensity on the nose and palate with rather dried dark red berries, dried flowers and herbs, a fine streak of minerality and then loads of tobacco, bacon fat/umami, caramel and hones as well as wonderful malty notes. It gained fruit, sweetness, and complexity by the minute. All in ultra HD. Good tension and freshness with an intact tannic structure but without any hard edges. Not exactly ultra-light and airy but the 70+ years helped to cut excess fat and render it and elegant wine from start to finish. Exceptional balance.

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  4/2/2023 - G_H wrote: 96 Points

  A negociant bottling lunch: This had the iconic '47 opulence and ripeness on steroids. Huge wine with so many layers. Bitter orange, medicial, malt, moccha, red berries, incredible minerality, gets even better with air and further develops the malty and caramel notes I love so much. When you open bottles like this the nervousness accompanies you, but then when you open that bottle and it shows like this: pure bliss!

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  5/3/2019 - tinybubbles Likes this wine:

  Great character here and a wine with weight despite the age, but this bottle had a modest amount of both oxidation and VA.

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  1/5/2017 - Bigpapa7020 Likes this wine:

  Nice, full bodied, soft tannins, concentrated

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