Question about 1983 Mouton-Cadet

[CTV]

Hi everyone. I have a question hopefully someone can help me with. I found a bottle of 1983 Bordeaux Mouton-Cadet (Baron Philoppe De Rothschild) in a box of family stuff today. I've been kind of an afficionado for about a year, but don't know much about Bordeaux vintages. Can anyone tell me a) whether there's any chance it might still be good...or b) where I could look to find any more information about this bottle? Many thanks...

CTV

[Van The Man]

CTV -

Mouton Cadet is basically bulk wine bottled by the Baron Philoppe De Rothschild, now the Baronness Philoppine de Rothschild since the Baron passed 3 or 4 years back.

To answer your question, I would not expect much from the wine but it could jump up and surprise you. I recently had an '85 (about a year ago) and it was certainly drinkable. But it's not likely to be good any longer unless it was stored in a very cool, damp place. Even then, the odds are agains you since, as I said, this is not a wine to buy and cellar. Remember, 95% of the wine made in the world is not meant to be cellared. it's meant to be purchased and drunk. This wine is no exception.

1983 was a good vintage in Bordeaux. The wines tended to be hard and tannic and for that reason, it's not considered to be great with the exception of wines like the '83 Chateau Margaux. Other classified Bordeaux are also considered to be good wines but not equal in quality to vintages like '82, '86, and '89.

Hope that helps. Let me know if I can help further.

Van