1953 Mouton Rothschild
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Tasting notes
The 1953 Mouton-Rothschild is a wine that I have only tasted once before, when it utterly transfixed its audience with transcendental beauty. This magnum was quite different and initially I wondered whether it was correct. Then later, perusing Robert Parker's own tasting note, I found many similarities between our observations. Deep in color, it showed little sign of ageing on the rim. It has a rich and exotic bouquet with mint, juniper berries, leather and roasted herbs, quite atypical for 1953 Left Banks that are usually more elegant and less rich. The palate is structured and dense, the acidity lower than expected, unashamed "old-school" claret with what felt like a lot of volatility on the finish like a 1947 Claret. It actually improved in the glass, achieving more harmony and tempering its fieriness on the finish. It left me intrigued as to how this shows between bottle and larger formats. Tasted September 2016.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
This looked the oldest of the three 1953s tasted together (with Lafite and Latour). Tingly fine concentration initially although the acidity made its presence increasingly felt as the wine developed in the glass. Quite rich and throat-warming. This wine is waning but initially it did taste very, very sweet. Pretty complete. (JR)
Tasted 7 Times With Inconsistent Notes||I remember a friend of mine decanting a magnum of the 1953 and sticking it under my nose to share with me the incredible bouquet. In addition to the exotic aromas of soy sauce, new saddle leather, cassis, herbs, and spices, the 1953 offers a deep ruby color with some amber at the edge. Sweet and fat, with voluptuously-textured fruit, this low acid wine has no noticeable tannin. While it may be living dangerously, it is a decadent treat if it is drunk immediately after decanting.|| Wine Advocate.October, 1994
About the producer
Pauillac-based Ch. Mouton Rothschild is one of the five First Growths, producing some of the finest wine in Bordeaux and the world. Known for its flamboyant style, the label for the Grand Vin is designed by a different artist each year.