1983 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac 1x750ml

Vinous 92

(75% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; ph 3.61; IPT 53; 12.1% alcohol; 90% new oak): Deep, saturated ruby-red with a hint of garnet at the rim. Floral nose offers aromas of red cherry, orange rind, cedar and aromatic herbs. Big, dense and concentrated, with ripe red cherry and plum flavors complemented by underbrush, sweet pipe tobacco and mint. Finishes long, sweet and saline, with a very classic, refined mouth feel. A very underrated vintage for Mouton, the 1983 has had to live under the shadow of the much more famous 1982. My latest sample was devoid of the green notes that some previous bottles of the ’83 have shown. [Ian D’Agata, 08/01/2011]

Robert Parker 93

Tasted single blind at the Fine Wine Experience horizontal in London. A deep garnet core with a thin tawny rim. The nose is a little lean compared to some of the other wines, slightly tinny but coalesces returning to the glass after twenty minutes, building some gorgeous tobacco and graphite scents with hints of cooked meat. The palate is high-toned on the entry, a little tarry with a smooth, almost creamy texture. Perhaps just a little more oak than was necessary, a little over-polished? Medium-bodied, smooth, more modern in style but somehow less satisfying than previous wines in terms of tension and clarity but it is probably more a case of this wine being relatively backward and deserving more bottle age. Tasted October 2008. [Neal Martin, 01/10/2008]