1947 Mouton Rothschild

The 1947 Mouton Rothschild continues to drink fabulously well, bursting with rich aromas of cassis mingled with espresso roast, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and exotic spices. Full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it remains a thick, textural wine of notable breadth and concentration, displaying a sweet core of fruit, ripe tannins and a long, expansive finish. I have enjoyed even more vibrant, complete bottles of this legendary wine, but this was still a superb example. If I owned any bottles—and alas, I don't—I'd opt to finish them up this decade, but perfectly stored bottles and larger formats clearly have the potential to see out a century not merely intact but in fine form. By the numbers, the 1947 checks in at 12.5% alcohol and pH 3.44.