Wine Advisor
Mouton Rothschild 1982
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Description
Formerly known as Château Brane-Mouton, it was in 1853 that Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired the property located on the Left Bank in the Bordeaux region in the Médoc. From this date, the Château was renamed Château Mouton-Rothschild. Under the leadership of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild saw its reputation grow to become an emblem of the Pauillac appellation.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Still an opaque dark purple color with no lightening at the edges, the 1982 Mouton exhibits a tight but promising bouquet of super-ripe blackcurrants, minerals, roasted nuts, licorice, and spices. It needs considerable coaxing to reveal its nuances. This wine is one of the most backward 1982s. Enormous in the mouth, with mouth-drying tannins, and layer upon layer of sweet, super-concentrated fruit, it represents the essence of the Mouton style, favoring nearly 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. This enormous wine is at least 10-15 years away from hitting its plateau of maturity. The finish is all youthful power and tannin. It remains one of the most remarkable young wines I have ever tasted, but I am beginning to think I will be an old man before it is fully ready to drink. It should last for at least 50 years. Last tasted, 8/93. Because of their fleshy personalities, Cheval Blanc and Pichon-Lalande won virtually all of the early blind tastings (between 1985 and 1987) of the 1982s. Mouton-Rothschild, which has always been the star among the Medoc first-growths, is totally closed and nearly impenetrable.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Opaque purple-colored showing absolutely no signs of lightening, Mouton's 1982 is a backward wine. Still tasting like a 4-5 year old Bordeaux, it will evolve for another half century. At the Philadelphia tasting, it was impossibly impenetrable and closed, although phenomenally dense and muscular. However, on two other recent occasions, I decanted the wine in the morning and consumed it that evening and again the following evening. It is immune to oxidation! Moreover, it has a level of concentration that represents the essence of the Mouton terroir as well as the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon it contains. Cassis, cedar, spice box, minerals, and vanillin are all present, but this opaque black/purple Pauillac has yet to reveal secondary nuances given its youthfulness. It exhibits huge tannin, unreal levels of glycerin and concentration, and spectacular sweetness and opulence. Nevertheless, it demands another decade of cellaring, and should age effortlessly for another seven or eight decades. I have always felt the 1982 Mouton was perfect, yet this immortal effort might be capable of lasting for 100 years! Readers who want to drink it are advised to decant it for at least 12-24 hours prior to consumption. I suggest double decanting, i.e., pouring it into a clean decanter, washing out the bottle, and then repouring it back into the bottle, inserting the cork, leaving the air space to serve as breathing space until the wine is consumed 12-24 hours later. The improvement is striking. The fact that it resists oxidation is a testament to just how youthful it remains, and how long it will last. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2075.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at "The Sampler's" icon tasting in London. This remains one of the great wines of the decade. This bottle shows wonderful clarity although it has nowhere near the intensity of Latour with a heady perfume of blackberry, tobacco, graphite and perhaps overall, less ostentatious than say, three of four years ago. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a touch of mocha on the entry, very fresh and vibrant with a huge build towards the tobacco-tinged, dried blood, spicy finish that is suppler than Latour. This bottle is less ostentatious than others I have encountered, but still a compelling experience. Tasted December 2011.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Last Tasted 8/92 If the 1985 continues to evolve easily and in a flattering manner, the 1982 continues to close down, preparing itself for an extraordinarily long life. The 1982 Mouton was one of the greatest, most impressively structured and richest young red wines I ever tasted from cask and during the first 4-5 years after bottling. Since then, the wine has continued to exhibit massive weight and richness, but the explosive bouquet has become more restrained and the tannin levels more noticeable. Tasted twice during the past summer, the wine was identical at both tastings. The color remains an opaque dark ruby/purple with no evidence of amber or orange at the edge. The nose offers subtle lead pencil, jammy black cassis, and toasty vanillin aromas, but even after several hours of breathing they no longer soar from the glass as the did five or six years ago. In the mouth, this enormously concentrated, massive wine is easily the richest Mouton-Rothschild produced since 1945. In that sense, it is an even denser wine the extraordinary 1986. The tannins are noticeable and the acid level is sound. The finish is spectacular, but the wine is extremely tight and structured, and would appear to need at least another decade of cellaring before it reaches its plateau of maturity. I suspect this Mouton will last 50+ years. A legend!
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Ex-chateau bottle. The Mouton ’82 has a very deep, youthful hue with a thin tawny rim and fat tears on the glass. The bouquet soars from the glass, as extraordinarily opulent as every with macerated black cherries, sloe, cassis and graphite, the latter more pronounced than previous bottles that I have encountered. The palate is full-bodied with dense, thick tannins, at 28-years of age still surprisingly grippy in the mouth with notes of blackberry, damson, tobacco, a touch of creme de casses and a orange peel. Very viscous on the finish and lingering tantalizingly, this is a huge, vivacious Mouton that still struts its stuff on stage. Drink now-2050. Tasted March 2010.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 1982 Mouton Rothschild is drinking brilliantly today, soaring from the glass with aromas of cassis, dark berry fruit, charcoal, pencil shavings, espresso roast and loamy soil. Full-bodied, ample and enveloping, it's a layered, sumptuous wine that's remarkably seamless and complete, with impressive concentration, ripe but lively acids and fine, melting tannins. Long and resonant, this is a great wine that can keep company with the likes of Mouton's 1961, 1959 and 1955.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
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. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050+ Release price: ($350.00/case)
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted from magnum no less (and why not?) the ’82 remains a tour de force. Incredibly intense on the voluptuous nose with potent blackberry, graphite and cedar mingling with black olive and mint, it is bridled with one of those captivating bouquets that should be labelled “outrageous”. The palate is full-bodied with dense tannins still cloaked in glycerine, second flavours breaking the surface with aeration with hints of fresh fig and exotic fruits. Wonderful balance although this magnum does not quite have the ethereal delineation that I have encountered twice before (both time in Bordeaux incidentally.) Still, an sensational Mouton. Tasted February 2011.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Medium brick in color, the nose of the 1982 Mouton Rothschild is a little closed and sluggish to begin, offering earthy, cigar box, iron ore, star anise and dusty soil notes with a fruit core of kirsch, dried mulberries, blackcurrant pastilles, figs and prunes emerging after a few minutes. The palate remains a blockbuster—full-bodied, rich, opulently accented and unquestionably hedonic, possessing a mid-palate that is jam-packed with notions of red and black fruit preserves. The satiny texture/ripeness of tannins is simply incredible! It delivers a very long licorice-laced finish.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
In 1995, I find the Mouton-Rothschild to be the most backward and unevolved wine of the 1982 vintage. It flaunted a knock-out, fabulously rich and ostentatious personality during its first 5-6 years after bottling. Since the late eighties it has gradually closed down, and it is hard to estimate when this wine might re-emerge. The thick, unctuously-textured, jammy fruit and enormous flavor concentration that are the hallmarks of the vintage are present, but the wine is extremely unevolved, and behaves like a young barrel sample. This massive, powerful example of Mouton exhibits huge tannin and immense body. Significantly richer than the 1970 or 1961, it is not far fetched to suggest that it is comparable to either the 1959 or 1945! Owners who do not want to commit infanticide should cellar it for another 5-10 years. Like Latour, the 1982 Mouton-Rothschild is a potential 50-60 year wine. Tasted 21 times since bottling with consistent notes.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted two or three times between 1999 and 2002 when it never quite lived up to expectations, ostentatious, more style over substance. Then a perfect bottle tasted at the chateau's La Fete de Fleur celebrations in July 2003, a monumental wine with layers of concentrated fruit, tons of glycerin and seamless tannins. Finally another bottle at the Mouton vertical where it shone magnificently. The nose more complex and multi-faceted than the 1986. Chestnuts, black truffle and mocha, with that minty note appearing after five minutes in the glass. A huge, opulent palate with thick, saturated tannins and most importantly, perfect acidity to balance it all up. Rich black fruits, a boatload of glycerin with a touch of fig and eucalyptus on the finish. Brilliant. Tasted September 2005.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Apart from the bottle served at the chateau in 2003, this is the finest Mouton 1982 that I have had. A ravishing, voluptuous nose of blackberry, cassis and oodles of glycerine. Then scents of tobacco and cedar evolve with time. The palate is full-bodied, perfectly balanced with a faint savoury, meaty element that I have not encountered previously, a hint of roasted chestnuts with a slightly grainy texture on the finish (which add dimension to this multi-faceted wine.) This is a superb example of a legendary Mouton. You could actually enjoy a bottle now of leave for 10, 20 or even 30 years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasted 14 Times Since Bottling With Consistent Notes Mouton-Rothschild's 1982, which has always been the star among the Medoc first-growths in early tastings of the vintage, is totally closed and nearly impenetrable. Still an opaque dark purple color with no lightening at the edges, the 1982 Mouton exhibits a tight but promising bouquet of super-ripe blackcurrants, minerals, roasted nuts, licorice, and spices. It needs considerable coaxing to reveal its nuances. This wine may now be one of the most backward 1982s. Enormous in the mouth, with mouth-drying tannins, and layer upon layer of sweet, super-concentrated fruit, it represents the essence of the Mouton style. This enormous wine is at least 10-15 years away from hitting its plateau of maturity. The finish is all youthful power and tannin. It remains one of the most remarkable young wines I have ever tasted, but I am beginning to think I will be an old man before it is fully ready to drink. It should last for at least 50 years. Could this be another 1945?
Reviewed by: William Kelley
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. For readers interested in numbers, the 1982 attained 12.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.64 (that information is the result of a great personal misfortune, because I sent a sample from a tragically corked magnum to the local enology lab for analysis out of curiosity).
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The saturated purple-colored Mouton-Rothschild remains the most backward and unevolved wine of 1982. It flaunted a knockout, fabulously rich and ostentatious personality during its first 5-6 years after bottling. Since the late eighties it has gradually closed down, and it is hard to estimate when this wine might reemerge. I routinely decant this wine 12-24 hours prior to service. The thick, unctuously textured, jammy fruit and enormous flavor concentration remain the hallmarks of the vintage, but the wine is extremely unevolved, and behaves like a wine that is less than a decade old. This massive, powerful example of Mouton exhibits huge tannin and immense body. Significantly richer than the 1970 or 1961, it is not farfetched to suggest that it is comparable to either the 1959 or 1945! Owners who do not want to commit infanticide should cellar it for another 5-10 years. Like Latour, the 1982 Mouton-Rothschild is a potential 50-60-year wine, but far less accessible than the 1982 Latour. To those masochists who lack discipline, be sure to decant this wine at least 8-12 hours in advance. The wine will reveal its extraordinary potential with approximately 30 hours of breathing in a closed decanter. A legend! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2065. Last tasted, 8/02.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the 1982 dinner at The Square, the Mouton was sandwiched between the Lafite and the Latour 1982 and to be frank, it did not quite match up to those wines. In many ways, it was a quintessential Mouton ’82 with that bravura nose of opulent, macerated dark cherries, iodine and violets that come racing out of the blocks. It develops a cheeky scent of menthol with aeration. The palate is full-bodied with layers of creme de cassis, dark cherries, mint and tobacco. It is fleshier than Lafite, rounded and plumper in the mouth, although it does not have quite the same level of breeding. Tasted April 2012.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy’s 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. What a curious showing for Mouton ’82 – a wine I have had a number of times. It habitually ravishing, flamboyant nature has somehow been tamed in this particular bottle (and it is not faulty in any way.) It is the most austere, backward aromatic profile that I have ever encountered on this particular wine, opening slowly with graphite, blueberry, cassis and liquorice. The palate is full-bodied and against, is the most reserved that I have met. It is beautifully balanced, pure and builds nicely towards its precocious finish that reverts to type. It is a brilliant wine, but I feel one that is out-classed by both Lafite and Latour in this occasion. Tasted November 2012.
About the Producer
Chateau Mouton Rothschild is located in the Pauillac appellation in the Medoc of Bordeaux, France. In the 1855 classification, it shares the distinction of being a First Growth with Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Haut-Brion. Mouton Rothschild has adopted a modern approach to winery management, employing a viticulturalist to oversee the vineyards. From the cultivation of the grapes to the pruning of the vines, from the tracking of the ripening of the grapes to the manual harvesting, everything is done to perfection. Today, Château Mouton has 90 hectares of vineyards, most of which are located on a hill called "Plateau de Mouton", at an altitude of 27 meters. The soil is deep gravel, with good drainage and heat storage, which allows the grapes to ripen slowly. The vineyard is planted with 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, with a planting density of approximately 10,000 vines/ha and an average vine age of 44 years. The vineyard also contains 7 hectares of excellent plots for the production of high quality white wines, with 56% Sauvignon Blanc, 43% Semillon and 1% Muscadelle, planted at a density of 9,000 vines per hectare. During the harvest season, the grapes are picked and sorted by hand, and the carefully selected grapes are placed in fermentation vats by gravity alone through moving vats. As a result, the grapes are not subjected to any unnatural pressure or restraint and remain in their natural, pure state from the time they are harvested until they enter the fermentation vats. At the end of fermentation, the wine is transferred to new oak barrels to mature for about 20 months. In 2012, Mouton Rothschild's new winery, which combines traditional techniques with modern technology, was inaugurated. It is divided into two floors, connected by metal columns. The interior is equipped with oak barrels and stainless steel tanks of different sizes, which correspond to the different plots and varieties of the vineyard, in order to achieve a more optimal winemaking blend. Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, France is the main wine of the estate and accounts for half of the total production. It has been praised by many critics and wine lovers for its beautiful, elegant and unique style, which is in harmony with the terroir of the region, and its artistic design of the label. In addition to the main label, the winery also has Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, France (1993) and Aile d'Argent Blanc du Mouton (1991). Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Bordeaux, France). The Petit Mouton Rothschild is made from the younger vines on the estate and is harvested, vinified and bottled on the same basis as the full-length wine. The wine quickly gained a foothold in the market and was very well received. The Silver Wings dry white wine is rich, complex and elegant, and although its production is scarce, it is quickly becoming a symbol of Bordeaux's premium white wines and a favorite among wine enthusiasts.
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