The short answer
As of September 2026, merchants ask a median of £4,600 a bottle for Petrus 2016 in 750ml bottles, from 3 merchant asks.
Petrus 2016 stands among the highest-rated modern releases from the Pomerol estate, holding a critic average of 99.0 across 10 published reviews in this site's dataset. Produced from an eleven-hectare vineyard situated on the plateau of deep blue clay, the 2016 vintage captures a growing season defined by a wet spring followed by a prolonged, dry summer. Merchants in our dataset ask a median of £4,600 a bottle for the 2016, drawn from 3 merchant asks. Winemaker Olivier Berrouet crafted the wine entirely from Merlot, and Decanter describes Bordeaux 2016 reds as a modern benchmark, combining high tannin, generous fruit and freshness. The recorded drinking window spans 2022 to 2076, confirming that the wine has entered its initial drinking phase while possessing decades of cellar longevity. The release remains a technical benchmark for contemporary Right Bank Bordeaux collectors, and every declared year can be compared on this site's vintage chart, dated to one extract.
The 2016 growing season in Pomerol
Petrus 2016 comes from what Decanter calls a modern benchmark vintage with particularly strong ageing potential. According to Decanter, the first six months of 2016 in Bordeaux brought over 720 millimetres of rain, 62 percent more than usual. From 23 June the rest of the summer was hot and particularly dry, with only 13mm of rain over 80 days. Winemakers told Decanter that in July the vines did not suffer despite the drought, because of the water reserves the soil had built up.
As harvest approached, September ran about 1.5 degrees warmer than average and acidities began to drop, until a shower of around 40mm on 13 and 14 September lowered temperatures a little and gave the berries time to regain some balance. Nights of 10 to 15 degrees and days of 15 to 30 degrees followed, and aside from a few showers the sun kept shining, so harvesters could take their time.
Why Petrus 2016 stands out on the Right Bank
The vintage holds a critic average of 99.0 across 10 published reviews in our dataset. The wine stands apart because it balances high phenolic ripeness with an energetic spine of natural acidity. The estate does not blend Cabernet Franc into the bottling, relying entirely on old-vine Merlot to carry both aromatic depth and structural longevity.
Rather than relying on overt power, the 2016 vintage showcases elegance, precision, and restrained alcohol.
Critical benchmarks against adjacent vintages
Setting the 2016 alongside surrounding releases shows how the estate's style moves with the season. Petrus 2016 holds a critic average of 99.0. The 2010 averages 98.4 and the 2015 averages 98.5. The 2017 averages 96.8 and the 2019 averages 97.8. The 2018 averages 99.3, the 2009 99.2 and the 1989 100.0. Each figure comes from the same dated extract, so the years can be compared directly.
Secondary market figures sit on the same chart. Merchants in our dataset ask a median of £4,600 a bottle for the 2016, drawn from 3 merchant asks. The 2016 has traded in 10 months of our recorded history, and last traded at £3,560 a bottle in February 2026.
Drinking window and cellar longevity
The drinking window recorded for the vintage spans 2022 to 2076. This longevity profile underscores the immense preservation power of the 2016 tannin matrix. Bottles opened today require extended aeration to unwind their tight structural core, revealing intense floral perfume and dark cherry fruit beneath firm structural framing.
For collectors managing a cellar, peak maturity will likely arrive between 2030 and 2055. Storage at twelve degrees Celsius in dark conditions with stable humidity remains mandatory. For reference, the 2015 carries a recorded window of 2022 to 2063 and the 2005 a window of 2025 to 2080.
Market value and acquisition guidance
The estate produces roughly 30,000 bottles in an average year, which represents a tiny volume compared to Medoc First Growths. Merchants in our dataset ask a median of £4,600 a bottle for the 2016.
Provenance verification is critical for buyers. Petrus holds no official classification because Pomerol lacks a formal ranking system, yet it remains among the most heavily counterfeited wines globally. Buyers should demand original wooden cases with intact banderoles and verified merchant custody chains when securing standard 750ml bottles.
Common questions
What is the critic score for Petrus 2016?
Petrus 2016 holds a critic average of 99.0 across 10 published reviews in our dataset.
What is the retail price of Petrus 2016?
Merchants in our dataset ask a median of £4,600 a bottle for Petrus 2016. It last traded at £3,560 a bottle in February 2026. The vintage chart on this site shows the asks and trades dated to the same extract.
What is the recommended drinking window for Petrus 2016?
The recorded drinking window spans 2022 to 2076. Peak maturity is expected from around 2030 and should hold for decades.
Does Petrus 2016 contain Cabernet Franc?
No, Petrus 2016 is crafted entirely from 100 percent Merlot grown on the estate's famous buttonhole of blue clay.
Sources
- Decanter: Anson's Bordeaux 2016 harvest report, checked 2026-09-29
- Decanter: How Bordeaux 2016 surprised winemakers, checked 2026-09-29
By WineExperts. First published , last updated . Figures from our tracked merchant prices and recorded sales; text prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed above.