David Beckham toasts 50 with Petrus pilgrimage

David Beckham rang in his milestone 50th with a pilgrimage to Château Petrus, the fabled jewel of Pomerol. From rare vintages to L’Ami Louis suppers, the footballer’s fête was as rich and rounded as the Merlot he favours. When David Beckham turned 50, he did what any man of means and Merlot might: he took a private jet to Bordeaux. Specifically, to Château Petrus, a name that needs no embellishment. Long before celebrities courted its cachet, Petrus earned its pedigree through patient vinification, clay-rich terroir and an aura of serene confidence. Beckham’s visit may not enhance the wine’s reputation among critics, but its profile on Google? Skyrocketing, undoubtedly. Victoria Beckham, ever the curator of her husband’s tastes, orchestrated four days of celebration, including a lunch at Petrus. There, under Bordeaux skies, David and Victoria sipped one of the world’s most prized reds — a wine that can cost upwards of £6,000 a bottle depending on the vintage. The occasion, captured on social media, offered a glimpse of a global icon not just celebrating age, but revelling in refinement. Their midday indulgence in Pomerol was followed by dinner in Paris, Petrus in tow, including a notable appearance of the fabled 1961 vintage — a bottle that typically trades hands for over £3,000 and is more often admired than consumed.

Petrus and the power of provenance

Petrus, situated on the eastern flank of Pomerol and under the careful stewardship of the Moueix family, is famed for its 100% Merlot cuvées and minuscule production. Just 11 hectares yield approximately 30,000 bottles per annum — a scale that amplifies both rarity and reverence. As Berry Bros. & Rudd put it, Petrus is “among the most celebrated and recognisable wines in the world”. That recognition extends to Beckham’s eldest son, Brooklyn, an avowed collector and vocal admirer of the 1979 vintage, priced around £2,500. Speaking with Sotheby’s in 2023, Brooklyn confessed a growing interest in younger vintages, declaring: “I only like to buy from [the] 2000s and above now”.

From Bordeaux to Paris

After their vineyard lunch, the Beckhams jetted to Paris, where Petrus again played a starring role. Dinner at L’Ami Louis, famed for rustic grandeur, was followed by a retreat to La Réserve, an intimate five-star hotel. There, Beckham was seen cradling his precious 1961 Petrus. Joining David and Victoria were their children, Romeo, Cruz and Harper, along with partners Kim Turnbull and Jackie Apostel. The jet-set jaunt began at Luton and landed amidst the vines, then veered onto the cobbled streets of Paris.

The celebrity cult of Petrus

Beckham is far from alone in his Petrus devotion. Jay-Z, in a 2023 Bordeaux bar crawl, sipped the 1969 vintage. Oprah called it “liquid velvet”. Nas rapped about his £3,250 bottle in The Pressure, while Wayne Rooney famously washed down birthday cake with it. Not all encounters are reverent. Brazilian football legend Ronaldo recalled his horror at seeing a teammate pour his £8,000 bottle of Petrus into plastic cups — with ice. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said. Vampeta, unaware of the wine’s value, grimaced and asked for more chill. Sometimes, even Petrus isn’t foolproof.

From clay to calibre

Petrus’s mystique lies not in celebrity endorsement, but in its unique terroir. Located on Pomerol’s high terrace, its vines are anchored in dense, dark blue clay unseen elsewhere in Bordeaux. The result is a wine with spherical richness, graphite-inflected fruit and tannins of silken poise. Vinification occurs in cement vats and ageing takes place in 50% new French oak for 12 to 18 months. As Colin Hay, db’s Bordeaux correspondent, notes in his 2024 tasting: “Very soft, very round, very sumptuous... with aeration, cedar starts to flood through... walnuts, walnut oil, fresh mint, a hint of violet... Majestic. Magisterial... One of the most enjoyable wines of the vintage to taste. Utterly beautiful and beguiling... Not big, but great. Serene.”