Tasted 8 Times With Inconsistent NotesI have found the 1961 Mouton-Rothschild to be distressingly variable in quality, much like the consistently inconsistent 1970. At its best the wine is a great Mouton. Huge, cedary, cassis, lead pencil, menthol-like aromas soared from the glass. The black/purple color revealed no signs of lightening or amber at the edge. Full-bodied, rich, and super-intense, this was an a profound bottle of 1961 Mouton that would have stood up against the compelling 1959.

Tasted from magnum. Subtle in flavor, silky in texture and still firm with tannins, this Mouton is clearly outstanding in quality. Elegance, not richness, is its hallmark, and the melange of spice-earth-fruit flavors is nearly mature.--1961 Bordeaux horizontal. Drink now through 2005. -