Mouton Rothschild - Pauillac 1999

Wine Advocate

92

byNeal Martinthe3/15/2017

Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 1999 Mouton-Rothschild is a "useful," perhaps over-looked vintage from the First Growth estate. It has a clean and precise bouquet - you could almost describe this as dainty, which I mean in a positive sense. The fruit is beautifully delineated, almost pastille-like with subtle floral scents emerging with time. The palate is fresh on the entry with supple red berries pierced by a fine line of acidity. No, it is not complex and it has lost a little substance in recent years, yet it is well balanced with sufficient depth and body on the tobacco and cedar-tinged finish. If you can put its status aside, it boils down to nothing more than a well-made, easygoing and refined Pauillac to drink now and over the next decade. Tasted December 2016.

Jamessuckling.com

93

byJames Sucklingthe3/17/2015

A spicy Bordeaux with berries and hints of currants. Full, super round and soft – surrounded by vanilla and blueberry pie. Round and lovely. Just coming around now. Delicious.

Wine Advocate

93

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2002

The beautiful 1999 Mouton Rothschild may be a modern day clone of their 1962 or 1985. Its saturated ruby/purple color is followed by sumptuous aromas of cedar wood, creme de cassis, wood smoke, coffee, and dried herbs. The wine is forward, lush, and full-bodied. It is already complex as well as succulent, fleshy, and long. Tannin in the finish suggests more nuances will emerge in 4-5 years. It is a complex, classic Mouton. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.

Wine Spectator

90

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2002

Blackberry and spice aromas follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with fine tannins and roasted, almost exotic fruit character on the finish. Lovely Mouton. Best after 2003. 20,165 cases made.

Wine Advocate

91-94

byRobert Parkerthe4/1/2001

Made in a soft style, many readers will prefer this "friendlier" blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. A very sexy Mouton, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, sweet cassis fruit, coffee, and smoke. Long and lush, with low acidity, ripe tannin, and medium to full body, it should be reasonably approachable upon release, yet evolve nicely for 20-25 years.

Wine Advocate

90-93

byRobert Parkerthe4/1/2000

Mouton's huge harvest team of 400 pickers attacked the vineyard on September 26 and finished in early October. Only 60% of the crop made it into the grand vin, which is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Yields were a modest 42 hectoliters per hectare. At harvest, the estate's administrator, Patrick Leon, felt Merlot was the more favored grape, but after fermentation, he thought it was the Cabernet Sauvignon that had fared better, surprising in view of the heavy rains and tropical humidity experienced in late September. The extremely hot temperatures during the growing season (10% above normal) have left their imprint on the seductive, flashy, low acid 1999 Mouton. Aromas of grilled bread, creme de cassis, and vanillin jump from the glass of this opaque purple-colored effort. Exhibiting an admirable mid-palate, stuffing, and fatness, low acidity, and ripe, sweet tannin, this will be one of the more forward, seductive Moutons produced over the last two decades. As the wine sat in the glass, notes of new saddle leather, coconut, and smoke emerged. This should be an uncommonly precocious, delicious Mouton-Rothschild upon release, yet it will last for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020.