Deep ruby-red with a hint of amber at the rim. Cassis, licorice, minerals, tobacco and cocoa on the complex nose; this has started to develop more tertiary aromas and is less fruit-forward than just a few years ago. The palate shows considerable sweetness and an almost opulent mouth feel, with blackcurrant and blackberry flavors given lift and clarity by harmonious acidity and complicated by graphite, tobacco and underbrush notes. The extremely long finish features a cool minty note and sweet, ripe tannins, but I also found a hint of astringency at the back that I had not tasted in previous bottles of this wine. A blockbuster wine, and still remarkably young: I can see this improving and lasting for another 40 years. This is a truly monumental wine and the best first growth of 1982, but I found this particular bottle to be a bit less explosive and rich than some other examples I have tried over the years.

Rich and deep in colour, this has a stunning intensity on the first nose. On the palate, there is the slight iodine edge of an older Cabernet Sauvignon, set against soft brambly fruits, smoky cedar and black truffles. Soft structure but the architecture of this wine is still very much in play, building in power as it works through your palate, setting your taste buds tingling with the gentlest of tannins. Again this is a classic, superlative example of how Pauillac can age. As it uncurls in the glass, the rich smoke on the nose is just beautifully seductive, but the palate softens just a touch quicker than some of the others in this line-up.
Tasted by Jane Anson
Part of Mouton Rothschild interview: MD Philippe Dhalluin to retire

Saturated dark red. Pure, subtle, highly aromatic nose of currant, cedar, eucalyptus and exotic oak. Wonderfully silky and opulent, with utterly compelling inner-mouth perfume and chewy depth. Showing spectacularly today and hiding its rock-solid underlying structure. The great finish shows extraordinary aromatic complexity and subtlety, along with big, dusty, fine tannins. This wine is a no-brainer: a clear knockout now and capable of going on for another two or three decades.

Parker's first ever 100 point wine (along with Petrus 1982), this at first seemed to be softer through the mid palate than the other First Growths in the lineup, but once it opened up, the autumnal blackberry and bilberry fruits came tumbling into place, as did charred sandalwood, cigar box, campfire smoke, and waves of crushed rose petal aromatics. Showing full tertiary welcome, with melted tannins, and the gently finessed pleasures of fully mature Pauillac. I wouldn't count out the ability of this vintage to remain at this point for another few decades. The Mouton label in 1982 was painted by artist and film director John Huston to celebrate Baron Philippe de Rothschild's 60th harvest at the Pauillac First Growth (and the 10th vintage since its promotion to First Growth status). Harvest September 15-24, 100% new oak.

The 1982 Mouton Rothschild put in a very creditable performance since over the years I have found this more variable than other First Growths, albeit one that can flirt with perfection when inclined. This is an extremely good and I feel, representative bottle. It is less flamboyant, more controlled, less ostentatious than some examples, revealing very perfumed blackberry, Hoi Sin, graphite and cassis notes, over the course of 30-40 minutes intriguingly developing Graves-like tendencies. I always love the way in which the ’82 Mouton just blossoms from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied and whilst more voluptuous than nearly all 1982s, it has perfect acidity to keep everything in check and those who appreciate a little viscosity will find themselves under its spell. Hints of crème de menthe develop on the luxuriant finish. The ’82 Mouton is a little garish, a nobleman-cum-bon viveur inappropriately attired in a loud Hawaiian shirt who compensates what they lack in subtlety with unalloyed chutzpah. Tasted at the International Business & Wine First Growth Dinner at the Four Seasons.

The vintage with the label designed by film director John Huston. Enjoyed alongside a bottle of 1982 Ch Latour with grouse. This wine with a little hint of brown in the hue was extremely sweet and opulent but seemed more evolved and very slightly less focused than the Latour. The acidity and sweetness seem in danger of detaching themselves from each other. There's the leathery note – verging towards 'old ladies' handbag', as someone once described the nose of Mouton. It would probably have shown even better if there had been no Latour 1982 with its extra freshness and potential alongside. It was certainly a treat. (JR)

Over the last couple of years, I had inclined to the view that the 1986 vintage was eclipsing the 1982 Mouton Rothschild, but two perfectly conserved bottles this year put paid to that hypothesis. One of the emblematic wines of the vintage, offering up aromas of sweet crème de cassis, cigar wrapper, espresso roast, spices and vine smoke, it's full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with a rich core of fruit; ripe, supple tannins; and a long, expansive finish. Lavish, even flamboyant, and at the same time seriously structured and quintessentially Mouton, it encapsulates the greatness of the vintage. For readers interested in numbers, the 1982 attained 12.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.64 (that information is the result of a great personal misfortune, because I sent a sample from a tragically corked magnum to the local enology lab for analysis out of curiosity).

What an amazing red. It's so very youthful with toasted oak, light vanilla, and dark berries such as currants and blueberries. Then it turns to mint. This is so fresh and intensely fruity. It lasts for minutes on your palate with each sip. It is so powerful yet elegant. It will improve for hundreds of years. I would still leave it in my cellar for five or ten years. If you need to drink it, decant it three to four hours in advance.

As this is now in its prime time drinking window, well-stored examples of this nectar should begin to escalate in price. And for good reason. Texturally, this opulent, showy, supple, lush wine, which manages to harness an incredible depth of fruit feels just great as it rests on your palate. The finish crosses the sixty-second mark with ease. I suspect well-stored bottles will be even better with another 5 years or so and should remain at their extraordinary level for at least another 2 - 3 decades after that. Tasted June 2021

In contrast to the powerful, focused, structured 1986, the 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild is more broad, sexy, and seamless, with that rare mix of intensity, richness, and elegance, with a weightless style that's so compelling. Red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, leather, dried flowers, and chocolate all define the aromatics, and it's utterly flawless on the palate, with no hard edges, perfect balance, and an incredible finish. Just a riveting, deep, incredibly compelling bottle of wine (this was tasted from magnum), it does not get any better. 100pts May 2023
A wine that’s singing today, the 1982 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild is one of those wines that needs to be tasted to be believed. It almost has a California Cabernet-like sexiness and opulence paired with pure Bordeaux class. Still solid ruby-colored, with a sensational nose of crème de cassis, lead pencil shaving, sweet tobacco, and even some flowery incense, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a multidimensional, layered texture, straight-up awesome levels of sweet fruit, and a blockbuster finish. This is Bordeaux at its most sexy and hedonistic, and it’s just a joy to drink. Given its relatively youthful vibe, I expect it to continue drinking brilliantly for another two decades and even at that point have a gradual decline. There’s no need to delay gratification though, and it’s certainly ready to go. 100pts June 2019

The 1982 Mouton Rothschild is drinking brilliantly today, soaring from the glass with aromas of cassis, dark berry fruit, charcoal, pencil shavings, espresso roast and loamy soil. Full-bodied, ample and enveloping, it's a layered, sumptuous wine that's remarkably seamless and complete, with impressive concentration, ripe but lively acids and fine, melting tannins. Long and resonant, this is a great wine that can keep company with the likes of Mouton's 1961, 1959 and 1955. 100pts WK
Medium brick in color, the nose of the 1982 Mouton Rothschild is a little closed and sluggish to begin, offering earthy, cigar box, iron ore, star anise and dusty soil notes with a fruit core of kirsch, dried mulberries, blackcurrant pastilles, figs and prunes emerging after a few minutes. The palate remains a blockbuster—full-bodied, rich, opulently accented and unquestionably hedonic, possessing a mid-palate that is jam-packed with notions of red and black fruit preserves. The satiny texture/ripeness of tannins is simply incredible! It delivers a very long licorice-laced finish. LPB 100pts
This wine remains one of the legends of Bordeaux. It has thrown off the backward, youthful style that existed during its first 25 years of life, and over the last 4-5 years has developed such secondary nuances as cedar and spice box. The creme de cassis, underlying floral note, full-bodied power, extraordinary purity, multilayered texture, and finish of over a minute are a showcase for what this Chateau accomplished in 1982. The wine is still amazingly youthful, vibrant, and pure. It appears capable of remaining fruity and vibrant in 2082! Thank God it is beginning to budge, as I would like to drink most of my supply before I kick the bucket. This is a great, still youthful wine, and, on occasion, one does understand the hierarchy of Bordeaux chateaux when you see the complexity and brilliance of this first-growth. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050+ 100pts RP