1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac [Top Shoulder, Slightly Soiled Label], Bottle (750ml)

RP100 "Over the last couple of years, I had inclined to the view that the 1986 vintage was eclipsing the 1982 Mouton Rothschild, but two perfectly conserved bottles this year put paid to that hypothesis. One of the emblematic wines of the vintage, offering up aromas of sweet crème de cassis, cigar wrapper, espresso roast, spices and vine smoke, it's full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with a rich core of fruit; ripe, supple tannins; and a long, expansive finish. Lavish, even flamboyant, and at the same time seriously structured and quintessentially Mouton, it encapsulates the greatness of the vintage." WK for TWA Dec 2022

JD100 "In contrast to the powerful, focused, structured 1986, the 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild is more broad, sexy, and seamless, with that rare mix of intensity, richness, and elegance, with a weightless style that's so compelling. Red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, leather, dried flowers, and chocolate all define the aromatics, and it's utterly flawless on the palate, with no hard edges, perfect balance, and an incredible finish. Just a riveting, deep, incredibly compelling bottle of wine (this was tasted from magnum), it does not get any better." JD May 2023

Robert Parker writes, "This wine remains one of the legends of Bordeaux. It has thrown off the backward, youthful style that existed during its first 25 years of life, and over the last 4-5 years has developed such secondary nuances as cedar and spice box. The creme de cassis, underlying floral note, full-bodied power, extraordinary purity, multilayered texture, and finish of over a minute are a showcase for what this Chateau accomplished in 1982. The wine is still amazingly youthful, vibrant, and pure. It appears capable of remaining fruity and vibrant in 2082! Thank God it is beginning to budge, as I would like to drink most of my supply before I kick the bucket. This is a great, still youthful wine, and, on occasion, one does understand the hierarchy of Bordeaux chateaux when you see the complexity and brilliance of this first-growth." 100 Pts Published: Jun 29, 2009