January 1, 2024 - Excellent cork condition. Very deep garnet. Almost Opaque, black colour with a glint. Decanted at 4.30 pm. Started drinking 2 hours later. I had a 375ml a year ago and it performed better much quicker. It was different this time. It was tight, lacking aroma and more tannic than usual. At first, I questioned the high price I paid for this well-rated first growth for the 2012 vintage in Bordeaux. It needed a lot of air and patience. It noticeably opened and became more perfumed over time, in incremental blocks of 15m. If finally became ready at the 4-hour mark. By then the wine has become very smooth, aromatic and balanced. Taste of black tea, vanilla, black fruits, cigar box, cream and liquorice. The finishing is long. A well-made full-bodied wine with good balance, length, concentration and complexity. The tannins suggest the wine can be aged for decades. Very blessed to enjoy this on the first day of 2024. We had the wine with prime Japanese A5 Kobe Wagyu, grilled prawns and a spread of cheese including camembert, truffle gouda, reypenaer V.S.O.P and aged cedar cheese. A really memorable dinner. Not the best PQR compared to other labels in Pauillac, e.g. Pichon Baron 2012 which I tried a year ago, but Mouton stood out as a better quality wine.
December 27, 2023 - 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
Color: Dark Ruby with some bricking on the edge, not as opaque as the Screaming Eagle... you could tell this was a Bdx (or blend) vs the pure Cab...
Nose: medium-high, this flew out of the glass and sang loud and clear "I am Bordeaux!" much more nuanced and layered with dark fruits, spices, maybe a little coffee, graphite ... not too much forest floor (I call it Bordeaux funk) kept opening up over the 2 hours... a clear distinction between this and the Screaming Eagle, both exceptional in their own way.
Palate: Precision, this is really clean and fresh. Medium dry, medium acidity and alcohol, not overwhelming and well integrated, nice fine silky tannins, does not coat the mouth like the SE did but keeps giving. Still on the younger side.
Finish: Super nice, 30 seconds...
December 25, 2023 - We had it at Christmasday with a roasted duck.
It was the first bottle of a brand new case of 6.
Honestly, I was a bit disappointed. The best was the texture with silky, fully integrated tannins - really smooth high-class stuff! The nose was quite hidden, best after about 30 minutes after decanting, but not evolving after: cassis, some fruit. The palate was not overhelming either: Surely a very good wine, but neither young and fruity nor ripe and earthy. I am not able to give a more precise description - because there wasn‘t much more to describe.
A Clerc Milon 2009 a few weeks ago gave me much more pleasure.
I guess Mouton 2012 and I just met in a closed down window.
I will give it another 5 years before I will taste it again.
November 3, 2023 - Mouton Rothschild Vertical: Youthful. Not ready for drinking yet. Medium nose intensity with notes of vanilla, violet, chocolate, coffee, cassis, toast and spices. Medium+ acidity and high tannin. Did not decant. Will improve with ageing.
October 14, 2023 - Enjoyed with Yun and friends over dinner. Fantastic!
September 30, 2023 - More complex, more depth, and more structure than Petit Mouton. Also not as open right now, but just opened.
September 7, 2023 - Excellent wine and experience. Brought to a dinner at the Penthouse at Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, CA. The sommelier on hand approved. We did a 2 hour decant. While engulfed in spirited conversation and in good cheer, actual tasting notes were not documented at the time. Nevertheless, when our 40oz Wagyu Tomahawk Chop arrived, a pleasureful whiff of the glass immediately took my focus, as I tuned out the noise around me and allowed myself to be enchanted by the deep and brooding aromas of cassis and leather. It was that profound, that I remember still. The initial taste confirmed what I smelled, while also allowing fruity notes to emerge. And then, I turned my attention back to the pleasurable company I had. Since I was not driving, I was fortunate to have 3 glasses. Cheers!
June 17, 2023 - Beautiful nose of dark fruit, cassis, tobacco leaves and cedar box… Almost at maturity, beautiful ripe and silky tannin, Bbq meat, very delicious!!
February 9, 2023 - Double decanted two hours before. Why, too young of course, albeit with the vintage trademark of being quite open and sexy. The fruit is up front here, with being to obvious. Needs time to settle in and gain complexity. 93++
#Schur#Mouton
August 13, 2022 - Two hour double decant. Very very deep magenta color. Blueberry, plum, graphite, brown gravy, and subtle leather on the nose. Super smooth, dry palate, with satiny acidity. Plush tannins on the longish finish.
This was a pleasure to drink with friends who brought this over for an “expensive” wine night. It’s so well made, but not necessarily my style. Mark1NPT liked it more than I did.
Already fully integrated, although I know many will say it’s too young. I realize it’s sacrelige to say this, but if a wine is not ready to drink 10 years past vintage, it’s never going to be ready. I have a good palate and I expect fruit in a wine. This bottle is absolutely in it’s drinking window and will not get better for my palate.
OK, let me have it… ;)