Mouton 木桐 1997 (OWC 12)

Description

By Tom Cannavan in 2003 (TC93)
82% CS, 13% M, 3% CF, 2% PV. Very dense, dark and opaque. Lovely sweetness here, with fine, fine quality on the nose of charry, toasty, espresso and a gorgeous sweetness of fruit; cherry, cassis and some exotic spice. The palate is fine too, with good texture and ripe tannins bolstering quite robust, full fruit. Plenty of cedar and smokiness too, and lovely length. Thought the Lafite has the more intriguing nose perhaps, this wine sneaks it overall and seems to be just starting to come together. Excellent.

By Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar in 1999 (ST91)
Deep ruby. Exotic, enticing aromas of black fruits, cherry cough syrup, roast coffee and caramel, along with pungent oakiness. Sweet, fat and thick in the mouth, but with adequate framing acidity. Quite ripe on the back end, with much finer tannins than the foregoing ’97s.

By Robert Parker in 2000 (RP90)
Only 55% of the harvest was utilized for the 1997 Mouton-Rothschild. One of the most forward and developed Moutons over recent years, it possesses all the charm and fleshiness this vintage can provide. A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, the wine exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, and an open-knit nose of cedar wood, blackberry liqueur, cassis, and coffee. Fleshy, ripe, and mouth-filling, with low acidity, soft tannin, and admirable concentration and length, this delicious Pauillac will be drinkable in 2-3 years, and should age for 15+. It is an impressive effort for this vintage.