1998 Ch. Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac

A deep opaque colour, heavy tannic black fruit flavours and striking vanilla overtones make this quite a cumbersome wine to taste in its youth. More importantly, the wine has depth and a very good intewnse structure, guranteeing it to be a classic for long-term ageing.

Like many of its peers, the 1998 has filled out spectacularly. Now in the bottle, this opaque black/purple-colored offering has increased in stature, richness, and size. A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc (57% of the production was utilized), it is an extremely powerful, super-concentrated wine offering notes of roasted espresso, creme de cassis, smoke, new saddle leather, graphite, and licorice. It is massive, with awesome concentration, mouth-searing tannin levels, and a saturated flavor profile that grips the mouth with considerable intensity. This is a 50-year Mouton, but patience will be required as it will not be close to drinkability for at least a decade.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Apr 2001)