1998 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac - Premier Grand Cru Classe 75cl / 12.5%

A bottle of 1998 Château Mouton Rothschild from Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, featuring a label by Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo (born 1899).

'Like many of its peers, the 1998 has filled out spectacularly. Now in the bottle, this opaque black/purple-colored offering has increased in stature, richness, and size. A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc (57% of the production was utilized), it is an extremely powerful, super-concentrated wine offering notes of roasted espresso, creme de cassis, smoke, new saddle leather, graphite, and licorice. It is massive, with awesome concentration, mouth-searing tannin levels, and a saturated flavor profile that grips the mouth with considerable intensity. This is a 50-year Mouton, but patience will be required as it will not be close to drinkability for at least a decade. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050. 96/100' Robert Parker Jr, 2001

Despite its market prices equalling that of Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild was excluded from the First Growth status under the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Baron Philippe de Rothschild called this a 'monstrous injustice', and some believe the Château was excluded as it had recently been purchased by an Englishman, so was no longer under French ownership.

After intense lobbying, Château Mouton Rothschild was elevated to First Growth status in 1973, leading to a change in motto, from 'Premier ne puis, second ne daigne, Mouton suis' ('First I cannot be, Second I do not deign to be, Mouton I am'), to 'Premier je suis, Second je fus, Mouton ne change' ('First I am, Second I used to be, Mouton does not change').