Chateau Mouton Rothschild - Pauillac 1er Grand Cru Classe 1982 750ml
"Climatic conditions
The winter of 1982 was unusually mild: temperatures in January, February and March were somewhat higher than average and there was less rainfall than usual. The vegetation cycle began rapidly, with budbreak for the three red grape varieties starting very evenly on 30 March. The warm weather continued in April and May, with some welcome rain in June. Flowering took place between 30 May and 3 June depending on the variety, almost 12 days earlier than the average. Dry weather continued in July, heatwave conditions bringing a violent storm on 30 July. Fortunately August, while remaining fine, was not excessively hot; showers in the first week were extremely beneficial for the vines. The precocity observed during flowering was attenuated in early summer as maturation was slowed by high temperatures. Veraison began in the first days of August. The grapes were in absolutely outstanding condition, maturing in ideal conditions in September and raising hopes of a very fine vintage.
Tasting notes
The colour is dense and deep with a slightly amber tint, while the nose reveals aromas of gingerbread, mint, very ripe fruit, blackcurrant and bilberry, with notes of cinnamon, toast and mocha. From a firm and silky attack with an elegant tannic structure of velvety, patrician tannins, the wine develops a full, round body with suggestions of liquorice and caramel. Fresh, stylish, seductive and charming, with notes of chocolate, this is a powerful wine with attractive length." - Chateau Mouton Rothschild
"100 Points | Over the last couple of years, I had inclined to the view that the 1986 vintage was eclipsing the 1982 Mouton Rothschild, but two perfectly conserved bottles this year put paid to that hypothesis. One of the emblematic wines of the vintage, offering up aromas of sweet crème de cassis, cigar wrapper, espresso roast, spices and vine smoke, it's full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with a rich core of fruit; ripe, supple tannins; and a long, expansive finish. Lavish, even flamboyant, and at the same time seriously structured and quintessentially Mouton, it encapsulates the greatness of the vintage. For readers interested in numbers, the 1982 attained 12.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.64 (that information is the result of a great personal misfortune, because I sent a sample from a tragically corked magnum to the local enology lab for analysis out of curiosity). Drink: 2022 - 2045" - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (2022)
Style / Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Cabernet Franc (8%), Merlot (7%)
Region: Bordeaux, France
ABV: 12.5%
Vol: 750ml
