April 21, 2024 - Dark tasting profile compared to the 95 Mouton with more fruit on display. It didn’t quite have the balance, composure or the length of the 95. Tannins somewhat dusty.
April 17, 2024 - Last of my Mouton. Been 2 years since my last bottle.
Decanted 90 minutes. Initially tart red fruit with a lot of barnyard. Over 60 minutes of air, this all disappeared.
Palate of blackberry and good acidity with nicely integrated elements all around. Solid but not great. Down 1 point from my last bottle 2 years ago. This bottle I noted a very loose cork which probably allowed for more aging/oxidation.
April 13, 2024 - The biggest disappointment of the night was clearly a counterfeit version of 1996 Mouton Rothschild which was purchased in the aftermarket well after release. Past the slightly stained label and soft Mouton cork was a suspiciously good fill. The most obvious clue was the lack of any sediment in the bottle when decanting though it did have an earthy Bordeaux nose. However, when poured there was zero resemblance to a Mouton Rothschild. The wine was poured down the drain and replaced with a 2008 Kapcsandy Grand Vin and a 2007 Bryant Family both of which were excellent.
March 1, 2024 - To be fair, this was a wine served to me as a PnP, probably at 55 degrees. As you would expect, initially reticent, but over the course of two hours it absolutely opened up to show its first growth qualities. There was some menthol on the nose and palate, but not enough to put me off, as I am usually not a fan. Some definite secondary and tertiary tea and earth characteristics on opening that softened over the two hours. Probably with a decant would get a few points higher from me.
February 29, 2024 - not blind
Still fruit dominated. Still in a nice drinking window. Beginning secondary and tertiary aromas. One of my favourite Mouton vintages. Old school but some ripe fruit elements as you find in New World wines. 96
February 24, 2024 - This has come a long way since my last bottle.
Aromatics are dialed with dried red fruit, tobacco, damp soil, and a bit of wood.
In the palate, it is med- body, med+ acid, and med tannin.
Showing nicely tonight but still grippy. Try again in 2-3 years.
January 20, 2024 - Nose: truffle, forest, pepper, cedar, smoke, black fruits
Notes: 12.5% ABV, started serving after breathing in the bottle for 1.5 hours. Having had Mouton from this vintage several times I do feel that this is the time when this wine performed the best. With a well structured and somehow complex structure, this Mouton has its typicality and is probably at the peak of its drinking window. The time and cellaring really smoothed out this wine and it's drinking very nicely now.
Drink: now+
Rating: 91
January 10, 2024 - Dinner at Foliage (San Francisco): Very nice nose with quite young and dark fruit flavors, spices, and forest notes. There's a lot going on, but the wine is not showing everything at the moment. Nice acidity on the palate with cassis, tart fruit, cherries, leather, and a hint of mushrooms. Long finish. I liked this very much although it's still quite primary. Yet, you can tell the sheer class and depth already. I'd hold for another 7-10+ years. 95+
January 10, 2024 - Expansive nose after 3 hours but needs more time. Gorgeous engaging palate: I see what’s meant by a wine of refinement and elegance - less usual amidst the brooding power of Bordeaux - but this has it. Next bottle in 10+ years.
January 10, 2024 - Dinner with Herwig (Foliage, SF): Youthful ruby-purple; medium aromatics, blackberry, youthful fruit; palate is full bodied, balanced alcohol and acidity; medium-plus finish. This seems young and needs more age or time. Like 2 more decades… 92++