CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD 1er Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac 1989 Bottle

Description

Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1989 is a richly evolved and utterly compelling mature Pauillac. Deep garnet with a tawny rim, it offers dried fig, black cherry conserve and saddle wax, with cedar, cigar box, mushroom and truffle and a graphite minerality. The palate is medium to full with a velvety texture, rounded tannins and brisk acidity, delivering dried fruit, olive tapenade, tobacco leaf and a balsamic lift to a long mineral finish. Best decanted and enjoyed now. Drink 2026 to 2035. Critics: James Suckling 98; "Massive then elegant." Decanter 97; "Smoked toasted glamour." Vinous 95; "Quintessential Pauillac with First Growth refinement." Matches roast or braised red meats, rich game and aged hard cheeses and glorious bottle to savour.

ABOUT THIS WINE
CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD 1er Grand Cru Classe Pauillac 1989 is a richly evolved and utterly compelling example of mature Bordeaux, showing the noble tertiary complexity that age can bring while still retaining a clear sense of Pauillac structure. The colour is deep garnet with a tawny rim, an immediate indicator of advanced maturity. On the nose the wine is layered and mesmerising: once primary blackcurrant and damson fruit has softened into fig, black cherry conserve and dried prune, joined by savoury notes of saddle wax, cured leather and game. Aromas of cedar, cigar box and old oak sit alongside mushroom, truffle and forest floor, while a subtle graphite and iron minerality keeps the bouquet defined and precise.

The palate is medium to full bodied with a supple, velvety texture; the original firm tannins have rounded to provide backbone without harshness. Flavours mirror the nose with concentrated dried fruit, olive tapenade and savoury umami tones. Secondary and tertiary layers of tobacco leaf, dried herbs, balsamic lift and a hint of cocoa add depth and nuance. Acidity remains brisk enough to give drive and freshness, preventing the wine from feeling heavy and steering the flavours to a long, resonant finish that echoes mineral and spice notes.

The 1989 vintage in Bordeaux delivered generosity of fruit alongside structural integrity, and Mouton has translated that generous frame into a bottle that now drinks with immediate charm and depth. This is a mature wine best approached now; a patient decant will help open aromatics and clarity. Drink 2026 to 2035, the earlier part of that window showing the wine at its most expressive. Match with roast or braised red meats, rich game, aged hard cheeses or dishes featuring porcini and truffle that will complement the wine's developed savoury profile.

*****

JAMES SUCKLING 98 points
Freshly picked blackberries turn into minty dark chocolate and oozing caramel with domineering eucalyptus on the nose. It becomes yet more complex on the palate thanks to layers upon layers of spices and sage plus fat and rounded tannins. There's a long finish with a bitter aftertaste, suggesting this could do with another 10 years or more of bottle aging. This is a Mouton I found massive at the time, then elegant and slightly austere years later, but today true to its former glory. Like the amazing 1947, it should not be forgotten.