RARE DOUBLE-MAGNUMS, JEROBOAMS AND AN IMPERIALE OF PETRUS - VINTAGES RANGING FROM 1921 TO 1937
Lying at Christie's
From the 18th century to 1925 Pétrus was owned by the Arnaud family (an Arnaud labelled '04 was sold by Christie's on 11 October 1991). It was then part purchased by M. Loubat, the owner of a hotel/restaurant in Libourne, the rest of the small estate being gradually acquired by his widow. Following Mme. Loubat's death in 1961 the ownership passed into the hands of her niece and M. Jean-Pierre Mouiex who had managed and marketed Pétrus since the end of World War II.
However, of all the renowned châteaux of Bordeaux, Pétrus is virtually unique in having no records prior to 1945 of production at harvest time, the quantity bottled and when, or of sales to the trade. It is impossible to ascertain how many grands formats were bottled in each vintage but bearing in mind the small area at Pétrus under vine, 11.5 hectares, and current average productin of 4000 cases (almost certainly smaller pre-war), it is unlikely that more than handful of double magnums, jeroboams and imperiales were bottled.
The collection on offer was reputed originally to have come from a Scottish cellar and acquired some years ago by the present owner from a noted collector.
The labels have been examined by the original printer, a family firm established in Bordeaux as label printers since 1815, and both paper and print are correct. Bottles and large bottles of Pétrus of some of these vintages, from the same collector, have been tasted, and notes appear in the text. The corks that can be seen at the lower end of the lead capsules appear to be original but they might have been recorked at some earlier date. One or two capsules have been cut, presumably to examine the corks before re-waxing, again at a date unknown.
All the bottles will be on view before the sale
Château Pétrus--Vintage 1921
Details
Château Pétrus--Vintage 1921
"1er des Grands Crus", Pomerol. Château-bottled
Heavy wax seal over lead capsule. Original Wetterwald label 'Château Pétrus 1er DES GRANDS CRUS, Médaille d'Or, 1ers PRIX, POMEROL' torn and somewhat bin-soiled (see illustration). Cork appears to be sound. Level upper shoulder
1921: exceptionally hot summer, early harvest of richly endowed wines - high sugar readings, alcohol and tannin. Pétrus tasted twice (in 1986), one in magnum at a tasting given by the present owner. Both had a fairly deep, healthy colour; the first a gloriously fruity bouquet; very sweet, fairly concentrated, with beautiful flavour and good length. The other more subdued, also very sweet with higher acidity. But both remarkably good
1 impériale per lot
"1er des Grands Crus", Pomerol. Château-bottled
Heavy wax seal over lead capsule. Original Wetterwald label 'Château Pétrus 1er DES GRANDS CRUS, Médaille d'Or, 1ers PRIX, POMEROL' torn and somewhat bin-soiled (see illustration). Cork appears to be sound. Level upper shoulder
1921: exceptionally hot summer, early harvest of richly endowed wines - high sugar readings, alcohol and tannin. Pétrus tasted twice (in 1986), one in magnum at a tasting given by the present owner. Both had a fairly deep, healthy colour; the first a gloriously fruity bouquet; very sweet, fairly concentrated, with beautiful flavour and good length. The other more subdued, also very sweet with higher acidity. But both remarkably good
1 impériale per lot