Petrus 2018: Scores, drinking window and market analysis

The short answer

As of September 2026, merchants ask a median of £4,412 a bottle for Petrus 2018 in 750ml bottles, from 3 merchant asks.

Petrus 2018 represents one of the most acclaimed modern vintages produced by the Pomerol estate, holding a critic average of 99.3 across 8 published reviews in this site's dataset. Produced under the direction of winemaker Olivier Berrouet from the estate's eleven-hectare vineyard situated on Pomerol's renowned buttonhole of blue clay, the release is crafted entirely from Merlot. Merchants in our dataset ask a median of £4,412 a bottle for the 2018, drawn from 3 merchant asks. The growing season commenced with heavy spring rains followed by an extended, dry summer that allowed the fruit to attain complete phenolic maturity with exceptional structural concentration. The recorded drinking window spans 2024 to 2080, confirming substantial cellar longevity. With an annual production limited to roughly 30,000 bottles, the 2018 vintage commands significant attention from international collectors seeking peak Right Bank fine wine benchmarks.

The 2018 vintage in Pomerol

Petrus 2018 comes from a vintage that Decanter rated 4.5 out of 5 for red wines and described as a vintage of two distinct halves. The vintage holds a critic average of 99.3 across 8 published reviews in our dataset. Winemaker Olivier Berrouet managed a demanding growing season that began with severe mildew pressure before transitioning into unbroken summer warmth. Merchants in our dataset ask a median of £4,412 a bottle, drawn from 3 merchant asks.

According to Decanter, conditions across Bordeaux were extremely wet until early July, and then extremely dry right through until October. Conditions reversed in July, bringing three months of drought and heat that concentrated sugars and phenolic compounds in the Merlot grapes. The onset of water stress came, as Professor Axel Marchal of the Bordeaux Institute of Oenology told Decanter, 'a little late, but when it happened it was abrupt and complete'.

Why Petrus 2018 stands apart in modern Bordeaux

Petrus holds a unique position on Bordeaux's Right Bank, where Pomerol operates without an official classification system. The estate relies entirely on its reputation, price history, and terroir across eleven hectares of vineyard. Modern vintages at Petrus are produced entirely from Merlot, with Cabernet Franc excluded from the blend. The 2018 bottling exhibits deep structural depth while retaining the aromatic poise associated with the plateau.

According to Decanter, good summer weather and a sunny September led to a wide harvest window, allowing the pickers to select fruit at exact ripeness levels. Annual output at Petrus remains modest at roughly 30,000 bottles, a fraction of the volumes produced by Medoc First Growths.

Scoring benchmarks against neighbouring years

Critic figures place the 2018 among the most celebrated modern Pomerol releases. Petrus 2018 holds a critic average of 99.3. The 2015 averages 98.5 and the 2016 averages 99.0. The 2019 averages 97.8 and the 2020 averages 98.9. Among older legends, the 1998 averages 99.5 and the 1989 100.0. Each figure comes from the same dated extract, so the years can be compared directly.

Trade figures sit on the same vintage chart. For the mature 2009, which holds a critic average of 99.2, merchants ask £5,250 a bottle. An asking price is what a merchant publishes and a trade is what a bottle actually sold for, so the two are shown separately rather than blended.

Drinking window and cellar evolution

The drinking window recorded for the 2018 vintage spans 2024 to 2080. This long span reflects the exceptional natural concentration and tannin volume achieved during the hot 2018 summer. While early tastings indicate that bottles are technically accessible, the wine remains in its formative stage. The dense core of dark fruit and firm mineral tannins will require extended cellar age to reveal secondary complexity.

Proper storage is vital to preserve the balance of warm-climate Pomerol vintages. Bottles held at consistent temperatures between ten and twelve degrees Celsius will reach their secondary development phase after 2035. Given the extreme longevity of the vintage, well-kept bottles should retain freshness for decades, in the manner of classic years like 1989 and 1998.

Secondary market valuation and trade data

Market liquidity for top-tier Pomerol remains concentrated among specialised merchants and international auction houses. The 2018 has traded in 12 months of our recorded history, and last traded at £3,332 a bottle in October 2024.

Provenance verification is paramount for any commercial transaction involving Petrus. Because the estate is among the most counterfeited wines in the world, trade pricing relies heavily on verifiable storage histories and original wooden cases. Buyers acquiring stock from the 2018 vintage benefit from relatively recent physical release cycles, making pristine provenance easier to verify through reputable merchants than is possible with older twentieth-century bottlings.

Common questions

Sources

• Decanter: Bordeaux 2018 wines, our en primeur verdict, checked 2026-09-29
• Wikipedia: Petrus (wine), checked 2026-09-29

By WineExperts. First published 30 August 2026, last updated 29 September 2026. Figures from our tracked merchant prices and recorded sales; text prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed above.