Community Tasting Note
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Comte Flaneur wrote: 95 points
December 24, 2022 - Popped and poured, cork soaked through and sheared off. I took a sample and let it stand in a cool place for a couple of hours. It started out slowly and awkwardly. My initial fear was that this may be drying out. But no, after a while it began to show its class. Some would argue that, like the 1990, this is a Mouton without ambition, against some epic 1989s made at Haut Brion /LMHB, Lafite of course, Palmer, Petrus, etc. Suckling famously rated it 99 (I think) and Parker 89 (I think). Both turned out to be wrong. Parker was more wrong than Suckling, imo. It is in interesting that in such a warm vintage this is barely more than medium-bodied, commendably 12.5% abv. As if, in the transition from the Baron’s passing, his now also late daughter, Philippine, deliberately went for a more elegant style, at the risk of being condemned with a low Parker score. But with the passage of time this has evolved into a glorious wine. It does not have the power of the Moutons from the legendary 82, 86 and 96 vintages, but has so much class and finesse. It has a glorious, pure, red-fruited compote and (appropriately for this time of year) a Christmassy spicy entry, with classic Pauillac cedar and lead pencil, allied to a smoky late autumn bonfire note, which combined is such a turn on. One distinguished wine pages forumite famously dismissed this as a luncheon claret. On this showing that is just so far off base. It is definitely on the lean side but arguably no worse for that; but, at the same time, it is effortlessly seamless, classy and harmonious; clearly first growth pedigree, and easily 95 pts.
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