95 Robert Parker
1948 is another one of those vintages that was largely ignored by the press. Shrewd consumers would be smart to take a look at well-stored bottles of 1948s that might appear in the marketplace. In the past I have reported on some of the other great 1948s, such as Vieux-Chateau-Certan, La Mission-Haut-Brion, and Cheval Blanc, but the 1948 Petrus has fooled me completely in blind tastings. The nose of cedar, leather, herbs, and cassis suggested to me that this was a first-growth Pauillac. The color is still dense, with only a moderate orange hue at the edge. The wine is rich, more austere and lineal than usual, but full-bodied, with considerable flavor, and a spicy, moderately tannic finish. It has peaked, but is clearly capable of lasting another 10-15 years. A word of caution - some bottles possess excessive (even for this epoch) volatile acidity. Last tasted 11/97
91 Wine Spectator
Hedonistic and delicious, with decadent, leafy, autumnlike aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, with rich, round fruit and a very long finish.--P?trus vertical. Drink now. ?JS
1948 is another one of those vintages that was largely ignored by the press. Shrewd consumers would be smart to take a look at well-stored bottles of 1948s that might appear in the marketplace. In the past I have reported on some of the other great 1948s, such as Vieux-Chateau-Certan, La Mission-Haut-Brion, and Cheval Blanc, but the 1948 Petrus has fooled me completely in blind tastings. The nose of cedar, leather, herbs, and cassis suggested to me that this was a first-growth Pauillac. The color is still dense, with only a moderate orange hue at the edge. The wine is rich, more austere and lineal than usual, but full-bodied, with considerable flavor, and a spicy, moderately tannic finish. It has peaked, but is clearly capable of lasting another 10-15 years. A word of caution - some bottles possess excessive (even for this epoch) volatile acidity. Last tasted 11/97