Mouton 2015: I fell again for the scam that is young classified Bordeaux
Mouton 2015: I fell again for the scam that is young classified Bordeaux
by CondorKhan
16 Comments
CondorKhan
So I was in Paris last week and went with my wife to the den of vulgarity and nouveau riche tourist consumerism that is Galleries Lafayette and I decided to see what they had in the wine bar, where quite memorably I got to try my first Chateau D’Yquem 14 years ago.
So they had 2015 Mouton on Coravin for 110 Euro and I figured that this is my best chance to try Mouton, which I hadn’t, ever. That’s right, I’ve never had a First Growth.
After the most theatrical Coravin pouring (and excellent service by the waiter), I finally got to try what was a dense, tannic, slightly green, closed off young Bordeaux, which I’ve tried many times before. I sat there for an hour swirling and swiring. Eventually it started opening up and showing the pencil lead, cassis, and a charming dense texture that could tell me that this could be great in another 10 years.
But to be honest, other than the fact that I can say that I had Mouton, I feel like I threw 110 euro right down the toilet.
Side note: Since I was last there, they added a horrifying aluminum and glass viewing platform right under then beautiful, historic Art Nouveau cupola, which is equivalent to taking a shit right on the Mona Lisa. I’m really not getting the Galleries Lafayette vibe. You’d think the people that spend $5k on a hand bag would want a more premium, intimate experience.
The rooftop is very cool, though.
kaperisk
Oof
j_patrick_12
Oof sorry. Have always found it odd that the trade settled on the big retrospectives at “10 years on.” Too often you get this sort of disappointing experience.
TelephoneNo7436
Better than $150 for le crema like the other post haha
GermanWineLover
This is why Coravin is pretty useless unless it’s used for very old wines. Most wines – including mature BDX – need air, more than just swirling can provide.
carcarbuhlarbar
I mean… if you have no frame of reference for 1st growth what even is this post. lol idk what you were expecting.
absent-absolution
Iirc wasn’t Rothschild not even an original first growth? They had to do some weird maneuvering and finagling after the fact in order to get that ranking iirc. Was this 110 for a glass or a bottle? If it was for a bottle, then that’s not terrible, but if it was that price for a glass, then yeah, I’d feel robbed.
SIR2480
Can someone explain? We had this bottle and enjoyed it well
Uptons_BJs
You know, I’d actually make the opposite argument – Young classified Bordeaux is great. BUT – Two huge caveats –
* First growths excluded * You can’t Coravin or drink immediately after opening, you need time and air
But like, the thing with “Classified Bordeaux” is that the gap between the “top” and the “rest” price wise is huge and possibly widening. It’s like comparing Shohei Otani versus someone playing AA baseball – technically they’re both “pro baseball players”, but their salaries aren’t nearly in the same league.
The lower ranked estates have fully descended into “cheap and cheerful” territory, but the big 5 along with perhaps a few of the “best of the rest” of the 1855 ranking, plus the best of the other parts of Bordeaux (think: top St. Emilion, top Pomerol, la Mission Haut Brion, etc), is still very high priced.
Mapkos13
Why down the toilet? Did you think it was ready to go after ten years or were you hopeful? I can’t tell if you’re upset or just disappointed. I mean a 2015 is still likely young so I’m not sure what the expectation was. Personally I wouldn’t call it a loss. In ten years go back to it again and see how it’s shaping up.
ericdraven26
If I’m going to disappointed, I can think of worse places than Paris to be!
rnjbond
For what it’s worth, if you gave it a 3-4 hour decant, it would likely be great. Definitely still very young and needs a decade, but I don’t think 2015 First Growth Bordeaux are in their dumb phase just yet.
ViolinistLeast1925
Dont hate the player, hate the game
00cha
I’ve never been wowed by Mouton personally. The only 1st growth I consistently am wowed by is Margaux.
CromulentDucky
I had this same bottle, at an event hosted by Baron Rothschilds who runs the winery. It was great.
2MainsSellesLoin
How big was the pour? 110€ for a glass compared to the bottle price as well as being served in a fancy bar is very reasonable.
But yes I’d wait another 10 years for this to open even a little bit.
16 Comments
So I was in Paris last week and went with my wife to the den of vulgarity and nouveau riche tourist consumerism that is Galleries Lafayette and I decided to see what they had in the wine bar, where quite memorably I got to try my first Chateau D’Yquem 14 years ago.
So they had 2015 Mouton on Coravin for 110 Euro and I figured that this is my best chance to try Mouton, which I hadn’t, ever. That’s right, I’ve never had a First Growth.
After the most theatrical Coravin pouring (and excellent service by the waiter), I finally got to try what was a dense, tannic, slightly green, closed off young Bordeaux, which I’ve tried many times before. I sat there for an hour swirling and swiring. Eventually it started opening up and showing the pencil lead, cassis, and a charming dense texture that could tell me that this could be great in another 10 years.
But to be honest, other than the fact that I can say that I had Mouton, I feel like I threw 110 euro right down the toilet.
Side note: Since I was last there, they added a horrifying aluminum and glass viewing platform right under then beautiful, historic Art Nouveau cupola, which is equivalent to taking a shit right on the Mona Lisa. I’m really not getting the Galleries Lafayette vibe. You’d think the people that spend $5k on a hand bag would want a more premium, intimate experience.
The rooftop is very cool, though.
Oof
Oof sorry. Have always found it odd that the trade settled on the big retrospectives at “10 years on.” Too often you get this sort of disappointing experience.
Better than $150 for le crema like the other post haha
This is why Coravin is pretty useless unless it’s used for very old wines. Most wines – including mature BDX – need air, more than just swirling can provide.
I mean… if you have no frame of reference for 1st growth what even is this post. lol idk what you were expecting.
Iirc wasn’t Rothschild not even an original first growth? They had to do some weird maneuvering and finagling after the fact in order to get that ranking iirc. Was this 110 for a glass or a bottle? If it was for a bottle, then that’s not terrible, but if it was that price for a glass, then yeah, I’d feel robbed.
Can someone explain? We had this bottle and enjoyed it well
You know, I’d actually make the opposite argument – Young classified Bordeaux is great. BUT – Two huge caveats –
* First growths excluded
* You can’t Coravin or drink immediately after opening, you need time and air
But like, the thing with “Classified Bordeaux” is that the gap between the “top” and the “rest” price wise is huge and possibly widening. It’s like comparing Shohei Otani versus someone playing AA baseball – technically they’re both “pro baseball players”, but their salaries aren’t nearly in the same league.
The lower ranked estates have fully descended into “cheap and cheerful” territory, but the big 5 along with perhaps a few of the “best of the rest” of the 1855 ranking, plus the best of the other parts of Bordeaux (think: top St. Emilion, top Pomerol, la Mission Haut Brion, etc), is still very high priced.
Why down the toilet? Did you think it was ready to go after ten years or were you hopeful? I can’t tell if you’re upset or just disappointed. I mean a 2015 is still likely young so I’m not sure what the expectation was. Personally I wouldn’t call it a loss. In ten years go back to it again and see how it’s shaping up.
If I’m going to disappointed, I can think of worse places than Paris to be!
For what it’s worth, if you gave it a 3-4 hour decant, it would likely be great. Definitely still very young and needs a decade, but I don’t think 2015 First Growth Bordeaux are in their dumb phase just yet.
Dont hate the player, hate the game
I’ve never been wowed by Mouton personally. The only 1st growth I consistently am wowed by is Margaux.
I had this same bottle, at an event hosted by Baron Rothschilds who runs the winery. It was great.
How big was the pour? 110€ for a glass compared to the bottle price as well as being served in a fancy bar is very reasonable.
But yes I’d wait another 10 years for this to open even a little bit.