The US TV series The Killing, first broadcast 2011-2014, has three main storylines: The police investigation into a murder; a family’s attempts to deal with their grief; and the fluctuating electoral fortunes of a political campaign that becomes embroiled in the murder case.
In episode 12 “Beau Soleil”, Councilman Richmond offers a glass of Petrus 1977 to Detective Linden when she visits him at home.
It’s an odd choice of vintage – unless price was the major consideration, in which case this is the least expensive vintage of Petrus currently available.
It was probably the worst year of a difficult decade for Bordeaux. There was serious frost damage in Pomerol in March, followed by a wet summer. By early September it was looking as though it would be a write-off, with the grapes showing a degree of under-ripeness even worse than 1972. But the sun came out and it stopped raining in mid-September.
Four decades on, it’s doubtful that even Petrus has much to show for itself.
Given a choice for that year, I’d go with 1977 Vintage Port.
