Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend

Part of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical from 1988-1990. This was my second time enjoying the 1990 vintage and, much like my previous experience, this was rather quiet early and then came on with the business, late. As before, a mix of red and black cassis, ripe and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. After two similar experiences, I believe this vintage needs a lot of patience and a lot of air to wake up. Without either, it will be misunderstood. Drink now through 2040+

From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+

Cork completely soaked through, ullage at top shoulder. Decanted - almost no sediment. Pyrazine character prominent at first but started to diminish after about 20 minutes of air and faded imperceptibly into the background as we added food to the equation. Aromatically very expressive with currants, red cherry, turned earth, peppercorn and dried herbs. Exquisitely balanced palate - of course - with the only component of structure that particularly announced itself being the acidity. Sipping on it with some assorted cheeses was pleasant, although the wine seemed to elevate the cheeses more than the reverse. The experience came to a crescendo with the main course of grilled rack of lamb, as the fresh herbs and Dijon mustard drippings mingled with mushrooms on the serving plate to create what I felt was an ideal pairing. Lacking any bombast, it was so complete and so elegant and so sublime. What a treat not only to taste this wine near its prime, but also to savor half the bottle over the course of a leisurely meal and get to know it intimately.

🔥🔥

Funky nose and in the zone after an hour

Incredible depth and length..dried black cherries, dried black currants and plums, mushroom

What a wonderfully rich and powerful wine. Integrated and complex. Buy.

Super fun wine to get us ready for the Bordeaux Masters Class this afternoon.

Medium garnet core with bricking in the edges. Layered nose with some definite bret, not off putting at all. Notes of barnyard, leather and dried red cherries. Well integrated and balanced. Moderate tannins (6/10) and medium bodied. Very rustic on the palate with some dried red cherries, forest floor and cedar. Long finish. Enough finesse to go another year or two but why wait, drinking well right now. Drink till 2019.

3L - birth year / wedding wine bias

Out of a #magnum The nose and length were really impressive. The nose was very intense and complex and the wine sat and developed on the palate for at least 4 min. The palate was a little beyond where I thought it should be and the tannins were a little disjointed though. The black and red fruit was very ripe. The balance was slightly off but still a wonderful wine. #pauillac #bordeaux #moutonrothschild #premiergrandcru