Although there is no official classification of the Pomerol, Petrus – located in the Pomerol appellation on the right bank of the Gironde River -- is nevertheless one of the most sought-after wines in the world. Because there is no physical château on the property, the wine is often called simply Petrus. The wine’s fame began in the 1940s, when several Petrus vintages won international acclaim. Since 2010 Petrus has been made nearly entirely of Merlot, though previous vintages included tiny amounts of Cabernet Franc. Owned since 1961 by the Moueix family, the estate’s small size means that very little wine is produced, which adds to the wine’s prestige and mystique. The estate’s vineyard management has also become highly disciplined in the relatively modern practice of vendage verte, the thinning out of young grapes to encourage better ripening in those that remain. Petrus includes 28.4 acres of vineyards. The vines are 35 years old on average an annual production is 25,000 to 30,000 bottles.