The short answer
Petrus 1995 is a structured Pomerol release holding an average score of 94.4 points across four major wine critics. Produced under the direction of long-standing winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet, the vintage was shaped by a hot, dry summer followed by mid-September harvest rains across the Right Bank. Sourced entirely from the estate eleven-hectare vineyard on Pomerol buttonhole of smectite blue clay, the wine was crafted almost entirely from Merlot. Drinker ratings across forty-five verified reviews average 95.1 points, reflecting a wine that has moved into its prime maturity. Observed secondary market listings show median merchant asking prices of 2193 pounds sterling per standard bottle across two months of trade history. The verified drinking window spans from 2007 to 2050, offering collectors a classic, age-worthy Pomerol with substantial structural longevity. Strong demand and a limited annual output of roughly 30,000 bottles sustain steady trade value for authenticated physical bottles.
The 1995 growing season in Pomerol
Petrus 1995 arrived after a dry, warm summer that restored confidence across Bordeaux following several dilute vintages in the early 1990s. According to Decanter, the growing season was characterised by prolonged heat and minimal rainfall through July and August, accelerating sugar accumulation and phenolic development. Vineyard managers on the Right Bank tracked rapid maturation on gravel and clay parcels alike. The drought conditions exerted controlled water stress on the vines, thickening grape skins and concentrating fruit extracts.
Rain arrived in mid-September just as picking commenced across Pomerol. The estate explains that the unique buttonhole of deep smectite blue clay across its eleven hectares expanded, acting as a natural barrier against excessive water absorption by vine roots. Jean-Claude Berrouet, who oversaw winemaking at the property from 1964 to 2007, executed picking rapidly between rain showers to harvest clean fruit without dilution. Sourced almost entirely from Merlot, the harvest produced a deeply coloured wine with firm tannins, establishing the vintage as the first true benchmark release for the property since 1990.
Why petrus 1995 commands enduring interest
The petrus 1995 release represents a pivotal stylistic marker for the estate during the Moueix family tenure. Wine Spectator reported that the 1995 harvest delivered concentrated fruit balanced by an assertive, muscular tannic framework that demanded extended bottle ageing. Unlike modern vintages that emphasise early velvet accessibility, this edition was built on classic Right Bank power and reserve.
The absence of an official classification in Pomerol means the wine relies strictly on reputational integrity and strict vineyard management. Jean-Pierre Moueix and his team maintained rigorous sorting standards, limiting estate production to roughly 30,000 bottles. This small output, combined with the distinctive soil moisture regulation of the clay plateau, produced a concentrated core of plum, truffle, and iron notes that distinctively separate the wine from Left Bank contemporaries.
Critical reception and benchmark scores
Professional evaluations confirm the enduring quality of the release. Across four major wine critics, the 1995 vintage maintains an aggregate score of 94.4 points. Wine critics consistently praise the combination of savoury depth and firm spine, noting that the wine has shed its youthful austerity in favour of complex tertiary depth. Community drinker feedback confirms this trajectory, averaging 95.1 points across forty-five recorded user ratings.
Comparing the 1995 vintage against neighbouring years clarifies its standing in the cellar hierarchy. The 1995 critic average of 94.4 surpasses the 1994 vintage at 93.8 and the 1996 edition at 92.8. However, it sits behind the monumental 1998 release, which scored 99.6, and the 1989 release, which achieved a perfect 100 points. As Jancis Robinson noted in her retrospective assessments, 1995 remains a serious, structured Right Bank year that rewarded long-term cellaring over early gratification.
Drinking window and cellar progression
The verified drinking window for the 1995 vintage spans from 2007 to 2050. Having surpassed three decades in bottle, the wine is now firmly in its primary consumption plateau. The tannins, which remained tightly wound throughout the initial fifteen years of maturation, have softened into a layered texture while preserving sufficient structural backbone to sustain the wine for another two decades.
Because Petrus produces roughly 30,000 bottles annually, pristine bottles stored in professional cellars at twelve degrees Celsius remain capable of extended evolution. Bottles that have experienced fluctuating storage temperatures show more advanced secondary notes of leather and forest floor. Decanting two hours prior to serving allows the dense aromatic profile to unfold fully.
Market pricing and valuation comparisons
Observed secondary market listings place the median retail asking price for the 1995 vintage at GBP 2193 per bottle, derived from three merchant asks across two months of trade history. Two live listings currently circulate across European and UK merchants. This valuation makes the 1995 vintage relatively accessible when compared to legendary releases such as the 2000 vintage at retail GBP 4104 or the 2009 edition at retail GBP 3288.
The pricing sits near adjacent mid-decade releases, trading below the 1994 vintage at retail GBP 2469 and above the 1996 edition at retail GBP 1752. Because Petrus is one of the most counterfeited wines in the global market, bottles commanding this price point require flawless provenance, clear capsule markings, and verified merchant sourcing before acquisition.
Common questions
What is the critic score for Petrus 1995?
Petrus 1995 holds an aggregate score of 94.4 points across four major wine critics, supported by a 95.1 average rating among forty-five community drinkers.
What is the drinking window for Petrus 1995?
The drinking window spans from 2007 to 2050, placing the bottle in its optimal mature drinking phase.
What is the retail price of Petrus 1995?
Based on observed merchant data across two months of trade history, the median retail asking price is GBP 2193 per standard bottle.
How much wine did Petrus produce in 1995?
The estate produces roughly 30,000 bottles in a normal year across its eleven-hectare vineyard in Pomerol.
Sources
- Decanter Bordeaux 1995 Vintage Overview, checked 2026-08-30
- Wine Spectator Petrus 1995 Tasting Note, checked 2026-08-30
- Jancis Robinson Pomerol 1995 Retrospective, checked 2026-08-30
Last updated 2026-08-30. Drafted with gemini-3.7-flash against this site’s own price and critic data, then checked against the sources above. We do not put a human byline on copy a human did not write.