1982 Mouton Rothschild

This is the legendary wine, 100 points from Parker and in his latest write-up (below) he says it's still not fully mature 28 years on! Indeed this tasting, on the occasion of my birthday celebration Nov. 6 (a day early, for ease of scheduling), was the first in which the wine actually tasted like it was getting mature. It really is the quintessence of great bordeaux wine. I can see why Parker says it needs a few more years as the bottle bouquet was somewhat restrained. But with coaxing there is a panoply of delights from the classic blackcurrant and, truly striking, the "pencil lead" smell that is often associated with Mouton. Beyond this a subtle array of blackberry, hazelnut, flower and cedar/forest floor, all nicely delineated and quit subtle. The tannins have melted to nicely integrate with the fruit and acid and propel a long finish just full of nuance. As Parker says there's plenty of life in this incredible wine. I'm delighted that I have 3 or 4 more bottles in my cellar--a nice reward for my long patience. This wine was purchased for either $38 or $50 (depending on the lot) and in Wine Searcher today it averages about $1250. If only I'd invested in 100 cases instead of those lousy mutual funds...

Here's Parker's notes from June 2009:

This wine remains one of the legends of Bordeaux. It has thrown off the backward, youthful style that existed during its first 25 years of life, and over the last 4-5 years has developed such secondary nuances as cedar and spice box. The creme de cassis, underlying floral note, full-bodied power, extraordinary purity, multilayered texture, and finish of over a minute are a showcase for what this Chateau accomplished in 1982. The wine is still amazingly youthful, vibrant, and pure. It appears capable of remaining fruity and vibrant in 2082! Thank God it is beginning to budge, as I would like to drink most of my supply before I kick the bucket. This is a great, still youthful wine, and, on occasion, one does understand the hierarchy of Bordeaux chateaux when you see the complexity and brilliance of this first-growth. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050+ Release price: ($350.00/case)