Bright, full ruby. Brooding aromas of dark berry liqueur, espresso and mocha; strong torrefaction notes. Then dense, minerally and consistent, with flavors of roasted plum and chocolatey oak. Wonderfully ripe and deep. Finishes with broad, chewy tannins that reach the incisors. A superb vintage for Mouton. One of the few Northern Medoc wines I tasted to have lower acidity in 2002 than in 2003, and one of the great successes of the vintage

Dense purple to the rim, this wine exhibits the classic cassis aroma that is so characteristic of Mouton. Medium to full-bodied, tannic, powerful, and cut somewhat from the 1988 mold, this is a backward, chewy, well-endowed Mouton-Rothschild that will require considerable patience from those who purchase it. A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the wine needs a good decade of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.