1999 Chateau Mouton Rothschild First Growth. Pauilliac AOC, Bordeaux, France. 12.5% alcohol. $100

Why buy 2001 and 2002 futures when wines like this 99 Mouton are readily available? Somewhat translucent blood red colored wine with lots of very slow moving legs displaying trace amounts of pigmentation. A very full open nose (can be easily appreciated from a few feet away) of toasty oak, lead, cassis, mint/eucalyptus, and some gaminess. Crushed velvet on the palate with persistent flavors of sweet fruit with a touch of oak. Tannins are present but are well integrated and not obtrusive. Quite forward for a Mouton with relatively low acidity. Drink now (2007) to 2014. 93 points. Clive Coates would have to dismiss this wine because it tastes so fine right now.

Nice to hear, thank you.

I bought this because of the attractive price of $99 a few weeks back. I have been meaning to consume it to see if further purchases are warranted.

I certainly would not mind having some of this in the cellar. 375s at $50 are available as well. The 375s seems more attractive to me.

WHERE are you finding these prices.....?!

Wine Club; various California locations including one in SoCal, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Curses.........I don't know if you guys are all aware but the state controls the liquor in our province......state controlled liquor--equals--400 buck moutons minimum.

Jump,

I feel your pain. Daily.

Jump, I bought mine just across the pond from you!

Seek,

Where in upstate NY are you buying for these prices?.......it would be worth my while to do a little cross border shopping soon.

Jones,

I know you have had a few first growths from 99. Is this the best of the bunch?

For mid term (up to 10 years) I find the Mouton the most enjoyable. For longer cellaring, I would choose the Lafite. People have went nuts about the Margaux but it did not do all that much for me. The Latour is another cellaring candidate but the tannins are potentially excessive and the Haut Brion was only ok in my book.

Thank you for the note. I have read in other forums (eBob?) that the MR was very approachable. I have most of the first growths save Mouton. I will pick some up to give a try.

Jones - have you had the '98 Mouton? I was looking at it today at a decent price. It has a good rating but I've never tried it.

The 98 Mouton is hard as nails and needs at least another decade of cellaring before tasting. I have not bought any 98 for my cellar.

Jones - thanks for the feedback. The '99 was a few dollars more than the '98 but sounds more approachable at a younger age.

The 99 should cost less than the 98.

Yes, but there was some funky pricing going on at the store. It's one of the reasons I didn't buy any.

I had the '99 Mouton tonight from 375ml with prime rib. I have seen several notes that mirrored Jones and having really liked the '99 Margaux, wanted to compare. I normally do not buy Mouton. I would have to concur with his tasting note pretty much right down the line with the addition of a little nice leather at one point. I decanted the wine for 3 hours before dinner and it was very close to wide open. This wine has a bit more stuffing than the Marguax, but shows, to me at least, a shade less complexity right now. As indicated above, the palate is very, very nice showing superb balance and just beautifully integrated tannins on a First Growth finish. While I don't know if the Margaux will get much better this is beautiful now and should see some fine polish with a few years of additional age. A great way to experience Grand Cru quality without waiting 20 years. 94 points. More of this is probably in my future.
In my experience, both the Latour and the Lafite are holders, with the Lafite leaving the Latour behind, as above, this and the Margaux are good to go when you feel like popping one, and I have not had the Haut-Brion, though I did buy a couple 750s.

Thanks for posting your impressions Stealthman. The 99 Mouton is a buy at $100 imo.

Dark ruby colour, almost opaque, to rose/orange rim. Aromas of cedar, currant; a little green/stemmy. Medium-bodied, quite closed, with a little bit of red fruit and black plums. Short finish, 10-15s. 86 points (05/14/2005).