The 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is the strongest wine from the First Growth in that decade. This bottle, served blind and ex-château in Bordeaux, is so precociously backward that I estimate it to be half its age. Blackberry, cedar and graphite are here as usual, though this bottle has even more intensity than the one served at the estate in 2018. The palate is brilliantly balanced with fine tannins and very intense graphite-infused fruit; there's just a touch more fruité on the finish. Superb. (Neal Martin, Vinous, January 2023) — 4 days ago
Nice young yellow canary color. Heavy in the glass. Tropical nose with notes of sea breeze, lemon, kiwi, white stones and tan spice. Glycerol and rich in the mouth. California like, but with nice Chablis nuances. I wonder how this will evolve over next 10 years. Maybe like 92’s? — 8 days ago
2000 vintage. Briar, earth and slight brickish nose. Color as if bottled yesterday. Light-medium/medium body. Throwing some serious sed. Decanted for two hours and a little watery on the concentration but plenty of fruit. I suspect this would have fared better with a six hour decant/lounge sesh. Also follows on the heels of last week’s tasting of the massive and undying 1990 vintage so there’s that. — 4 days ago
Tom Garland
1.5 hour decant(little fine/cloudy sediment). A majestic deep ruby red color. On the nose: perfumed nose of plum, smoked meat, old leather, eucalyptus, burnt cedar, green veggie. Taste: smooth, slightly creamy, elegant, structured wine with black plum, currants, herbaceous, nutty chocolate, leather, graphite and a long peppery savory dry finish. YUM!
The financial crisis and excess wine to sell had the 08 1st growths all priced less than $200 a bottle so I bought a bunch. At 15 years, it's finally time to check em all out. This Mouton is a nice start. — 2 days ago