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Pétrus is a wine situated on the higher point of the Pomerol wine region in Bordeaux. The wine is made almost entirely from the Merlot grape. Although the wines of Pomerol have never been classified, Pétrus is now considered among the best of Bordeaux along with the First Growths. Not only so, nowadays, Pétrus is considered to be the most interesting of the Pomerols. The estate was among the first in Bordeaux to implement green-harvesting as a way to lower crop yields and raise the quality of the remaining grapes. There is no Château physically on the estate, and nowhere is it written on the label; this explains why it is simply referred to as Pétrus, and not Château Pétrus. The Château belongs to the family of the Libourne wine merchant Moueix. Newly released bottles are typically offered for more than $500 as futures, with mature examples often fetching more than $1,000. However, this is a recent phenomenon, and as recently as 1970 Pétrus could be purchased for $20,000.   The vineyard of Pétrus soil consists of a high percentage of iron-rich clay, much more than is contained in surrounding properties. The vines, 95% of which are planted with Merlot and the remainder with Cabernet Franc, which is usually not included in the 'grand vin', have an average age of over 40 years.   Appellation: Pomerol Areas under Vine: 12 hectares Average Annual Production: 3,000 cases per annum Soil: The composition of the topsoil and the subsoil at Petrus is almost all clay Grape Varieties: Merlot (96%), Cabernet Franc (4%) Ageing: 24 months in new oak Top Vintages: 1921, 1929, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1961, 1964, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006