One of my favorite vintages for this chateau, the 1955 Mouton Rothschild continues to drink beautifully, offering up aromas of cassis, exotic spices, grilled ceps, dark chocolate, cigar box and rich loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with velvety but still abundant tannins, bright acids and an immensely long, penetrating finish, it's a profound, intensely characterful wine that continues to maintain a remarkably high level of quality.

Tasted 3 Times With Consistent NotesThe 1955 should be a vintage to buy at auction as I suspect the price is more reasonable than what such acclaimed vintages as 1959 and 1961 fetch. The color reveals no amber or rust, only a slight lightening of intensity at the edge. The nose offers up that explosive Mouton perfume of mint, leather, cassis, black olives, and lead pencil. In the mouth, there is stunning concentration, magnificent extraction of fruit, and plenty of tannin in the long finish. The wine still tastes remarkably young and could easily last another 20-30 years. Amazing!

A blockbuster that is superbly youthful despite its age, offering a symphony of seductive aromas and flavors of mint, cassis, black currant, chocolate and vanilla. An enormous wine to cellar until at least 2000.--Mouton-Rothschild vertical. -PM