Château Mouton Rothschild - Pauillac 1990
Château Mouton Rothschild Description
Climatic conditions:
The vegetation cycle started early following a mild winter. Budbreak took place between 7 and 17 March depending on the variety. Changeable weather in the spring – cold weather in March and April followed by high temperatures in May – caused early but slow flowering.
Mid-flowering was observed on 21 May for the Merlot and Cabernet Franc and on 26 May for the Cabernet Sauvignon. June and July were dry; August remained dry and very hot, with several days of heatwave conditions.
Veraison, like flowering, took place early but slowly; mid-veraison was observed between 3 and 11 August depending on the variety, causing the grapes to mature unevenly on some bunches.
After elimination of the unevenly matured bunches, the crop showed exceptional potential. The grapes were in perfect condition, very ripe and deeply coloured. Fine weather in September meant that the harvest could take place under ideal conditions both for the maturity of the grapes and for picking.
Tasting notes
The wine has a clear, glittering colour with a slightly brickish tint, while the open and expressive nose offers well-developed aromas of blond tobacco and game together with some very pleasant mineral notes.
The attack is gentle and gradual, while the refined and silky tannic structure suggests that this Mouton Rothschild has reached full maturity.
The fruit, relatively discreet on the nose, comes into its own on the palate in flavours of macerated fruit and prunes in alcohol. An attractive, acidulated and airy finish.
Illustration of the label Francis Bacon 1909-1992
Vinous Media: 94 Points
(81% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc, and 9% merlot; pH 3.69; IPT 60; 12.2% alcohol; 76% new oak; a 79% selection): Bright red with a pale rim. Knockout nose of aromatic herbs, strawberry, sweet spices and acacia flower; yet another wine strongly marked by its cabernet franc presence. Fresh and vibrant, this absolutely dances on the palate with strawberry, sour red cherry and raspberry flavors complicated by gunflint and herbs. High acidity provides great clarity and cut to the long, floral, smoothly tannic finish. This has improved considerably with bottle age. Harvested from September 18 through October 3, this Mouton offers amazing balance and fragrance. In 1990 Mouton was still using a heavy toast for its barriques, which resulted in a smoky quality in the wines that was considered by many to be just as typical of Mouton as its opulence. "But we began turning things back in 1993, as we saw that our 1992 was a little unbalanced from the use of heavily toasted barrels," said Tourbier remarks. 94.
-- Ian D'Agata
