March 26, 2024 - Tasted at an Evening with Friends alongside 2005 Chateau Latour and 2005 Chateau Larcis Ducasse. The Mouton Rothschild was, by far, the wine of the evening from first sip to last dram. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot with 1% Cabernet Franc. A fruit bomb from beginning to end, it surprised with with it's voluptuous full bodied feel. Aftertaste lingered for a full 60+ seconds. It will last for decades, yet gives great pleasure now.
February 14, 2024 - Drank on Valentine's day. Not sure what it is, but I have a hard time getting excited about Mouton. Nothing outrageously bad, but also simply not that memorable. It may be young too, for that matter. Tannins came shooting out about thirty minutes into our bottle. Subtle, not overpowering, nice finish -- but nothing outrageously memorable.
February 2, 2024 - Sun served this mag btl and decanted for 1 hr which should be longer to let it blossom I believed.
December 18, 2023 - A friend surprised us with this bottle from their home. Served at a Healdsburg restaurant. Thank you, gents.
Ullage was reasonable and cork was fine. The bottle was decanted, but served almost immediately. Color had a good medium red hue indicative of an excellent chateau, nearly 20 years old.
The palate possessed darker red fruit qualities, such as mulberry and cherry. Some cassis too. No pencil lead like some Pauillacs. The 2005 vintage, as I recall, was big with lots of tannin, but this specific bottle was all about mid-palate elegance.
In sum, an enjoyable wine, revealing wonderful elegance with medium rich Cabernet Sauvignon flavors. Well balanced, but not brawny.
(Served with grilled duck, mushrooms, and creamed spinach.)
November 3, 2023 - Mouton Rothschild Vertical: 2nd time within 2 week to drink with similar notes. Still youthful. It’s actually infanticide to drink now, despite entering into its drinking cycle. Strong vintage and powerful wine. Will last for min 20 years ahead. Medium+ acidity and high tannin. Tannin is velvety. Notes of cassis, vanilla, violet, spices, toast, black fruits, chocolate.
October 24, 2023 - Drank it along side 2005 & 2009.
First time trying 2005. Still youthful. It’s actually infanticide to drink now, despite entering into its drinking cycle. Strong vintage and powerful wine. Will last for min 20 years ahead. Medium+ acidity and high tannin. Tannin is velvety. Notes of cassis, vanilla, violet, spices, toast, black fruits, chocolate.
2009 have notes of black fruits, spices, toast, cassis. Opulent. Classic and elegant. Similar notes compared with 2005 just that its younger. Medium+ acidity and high tannin. Tannin is velvety. Again it’s too young to drink this now. Min 20 years ahead. Keep and enjoy later.
October 14, 2023 - Wine tasting for friends: Opened for four hours and then decanted for one hour. Served blind alongside Monte Bello 2009.
Solid, elegant Pauillac. The guests noted how evolved it was for the vintage.
Very good wine for sure, but it didn't wow me.
July 19, 2023 - Decanted and aerated for an hour then drank over 90 minutes. Deep ruby red, you can almost call the 2005 vintage purely from the color of the wine. On the nose lots of dark cassis notes, tobacco leaf, pepper, some gamyness and crushed stones. On the palate very bright dark red fruits, lots of power and finesses, amazing backbone mid palate and great acidity and structure, finishes long with tannins present but velvety and fully coated by the richness of fruit. Simply delicious.
July 14, 2023 - Had this at Table de Pavie in Saint Emilion. The wine was absolutely fabulous and this particular bottle was in a perfect spot - plenty of fruit left but secondary and tertiary aromas coming through. If you have this bottle in your cellar, it might be time to give it a try. Recommend a couple of hours of decant - our bottle was decanted an hour before we arrived at the restaurant and kept cool. By the time we had our first sip, I would guess it had been 2.5 hrs.
July 6, 2023 - Return to Willamette; 7/2/2023-7/8/2023 (Portland & Willamette): A bit green but in the best possible way (I actually don’t mind some green in my wine). A bit more herbal. Very tasty although of course a bit young. Drank next to Maggie’s Cabernet.