Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1er Cru 1989

James Suckling: 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. 98/100

Falstaff: Ich gebe es unumwunden zu: Ich liebe diesen Wein. Nachdem ihn R. Parker recht niedrig bewertet hat und das für den Handel das Einzige zu sein scheint, was zählt, ist er noch vergleichsweise preiswert zu haben. 97/100 (2006)

Jeff Leve: Disappointing for a First Growth. The issue here is the over-riding sensation of greenness on the nose and palate. The spicy cassis is fresh and straddles the line between sweet and tart, and you also find strong notes of cedar and tobacco. But the intensity of the herbal and pepper notes in the finish really stand out. Lovers of those characteristics will enjoy this more than I did. 92/100

Jancis Robinson: Notably dark ruby with a blackish tinge. Dense, exotic cassis nose. Lots of ripe fruit but no obvious sweetness. Clearly a very fine, long-living wine. Attractive freshness on the finish. Very persistent. No hint of tiring or furry, indistinct fruit – unlike some 1989s. Complex classic claret. No hint of modernism. Attractive spicy note on the end. Very neat. 18.5/20 (2014)