Château Mouton-Rothschild

5/22/2017 Wein Wisser WEIN WISSER : 19 / 20 83 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 % Merlot, 1 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petit Verdot. Dunkles Purpur mit satter Mitte und lila Rand. Dicht verwobenes blaubeeriges Bouquet mit Brombeeren und Lakritze, dahinter schwarze Johannisbeeren und ein Touch After-Eight-Minze. Am Gaumen mit stützendem Tannin, fein aufrauend, aber in der Entwicklung am weitesten von allen drei Pauillac-Premiers, da ist Fülle und Frische bereits in Balance, ein beruhigender Mouton, der frühes Genussvergnügen bereiten wird. 5/3/2017 Bettane & Desseauve BETTANE & DESSEAUVE ( BETTANE & DESSEAUVE) : 98-99 / 100 Immense réussite et expression quasi parfaite du terroir avec encépagement complet (83 % cabernet sauvignon et 15 % merlot). Qualité d’extraction du tannin exemplaire. Longueur et éclat uniques à ce stade en Médoc. 5/2/2017 Martin WINE ADVOCATE (NEAL MARTIN) : 98-100 / 100 The 2016 Mouton-Rothschild is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the latter two co-fermented, picked from 26 September and finished on 14 October. As usual, it is being matured in 100% new oak. It has a very intense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cold limestone and crushed violet aromas that if anything, appear to gain vigor with aeration in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, juicy tannin. There is a lot of fruit packed into this Mouton-Rothschild and therefore one can feel the weight in the mouth, yet the acidity keeps everything on tip-toes. The finish has superb precision and opulence, completing a Mouton-Rothschild that will rivet you to the spot. Tasted on two occasions, the second confirming that this is simply a magnificent wine. Whichever artist eventually designs the label is going to be drinking well. 4/27/2017 The Wine Cellar Insider THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER (JEFF LEVE) : 99-100 / 100 Almost opaque in color, the wine is inky dark with a beautiful sheen to the edge. Blackberry, cassis, citrus, flowers, Cuban cigars and exotic spices are the first things you notice. Power balanced with stylishness, sweetness with acidity. This is pure silk and velvet in texture with the flavor of berries just picked off the vine. I timed the finish at over 60 seconds and this is just a baby! Imagine what this will be like when it’s mature! The blend comes from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. This is the first time since 2004 that Mouton Rothschild has been able to include Petit Verdot in the blend. At 13.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.76, the harvest took place between September 26 and October 14. The Grand Vin represents 53% of the harvest. 4/26/2017 Vinous VINOUS (ANTONIO GALLONI) : 95-98 / 100 On first impression, the 2016 Mouton Rothschild is incredibly reminiscent of the 1986, especially in its aromatics. On the palate, the 2016 naturally reflects the more finessed personality of the year as well as 30 years of continual refinements in vineyard and cellar work. Graphite, grilled herbs, smoke, crème de cassis, bittersweet chocolate and ripe plums are some of the many flavors that flesh out in the glass in an utterly captivating, exquisite Mouton that I had to taste twice and then directly from barrel because of its pure allure. Although it is early, the 2016 Mouton is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. 4/25/2017 Decanter.com DECANTER.COM (JANE ANSON) : 98 / 100 For the 2016 vintage, Philippe Dhalluin and his team have wrought a big, rich Mouton full of seductive grilled coffee bean, slate, graphite, tight cassis and bilberry. This has depth and impact and closely approaches the 2010. Astonishing! Clearly powerful but with the beauty and flourish of Mouton. It is a long lasting wine, just stretching out endlessly in front of you. The tannins are ever present and precise with a sweetness to them and a satin edge. This is 100% new oak, but has that 2016 trick of seeming perfectly integrated already. A wine to age then sink into on some happy future date. 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot (the last two were co-vinified, unusually). (Image is the 2014 bottle; the design for the 2016 label will be revealed later). Drinking Window 2027 - 2050 4/25/2017 Jukes MATTHEWJUKES.COM (MATTHEW JUKES) : 19,5 / 20 (83 Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 Merlot, 1 Cabernet Franc, 1 Petit Verdot) | 13.3% alc. A very intriguing, luxurious nose, studded with plum and damson fruit is underlined with a hugely focussed and power- ful core of fruit which has masses of energy and depth. The oak is very evident but this is perfectly matched to the fruit and the whole package is immensely long. There are some dried fruit notes here and also some drier tannins, too, but this is a fantastic wine with serious gravitas. 19.5+ 4/21/2017 Robinson JANCIS ROBINSON (JANCIS ROBINSON) : 18,5 / 20 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot picked from 26 September (Merlot) until 14 October (Cabernet Sauvignon). Exceptional crimson. Real lift and transparency. Quite a soaring dry style with great texture and refreshment. Very strong style statement. Infusion of Cabernet. A sort of amalgam of cassis and tar in that very Mouton way but with 21st-century lift and transparency. Quite brave in a way. Bone dry and utterly embryonic compared with most of the 2016s (with the notable exception of Las Cases). 18.5+ 4/19/2017 Wine Enthusiast WINE ENTHUSIAST (ROGER VOSS) : 98-100 / 100 Barrel Sample. The opulence of this wine is very much in the tradition of the estate. This year, though, there is a level of freshness that's amazing. The generous tannins and acidity give the wine the perfect lift. It's a great wine from this estate, likely to mature for decades. 4/10/2017 Quarin JEAN-MARC QUARIN (JEAN-MARC QUARIN) : 20 / 20 Boum ! Voici le Mouton Rothschild le plus extraordinaire que je goûte. Il dépasse le 1982, le 1986 et tous les autres millésimes que je connais en bouteilles. Dés octobre dernier, je savais que Saint-Estèphe, le voisin, avait parfaitement mûri son raisin en 2016. Je n'imaginais pas qu'à une encablure de là Mouton Rothschild tire un tel profit de l'année. Je craignais que son terroir chaud et précoce souffre de la sècheresse. C'était sans compter que sous cette couche épaisse de graves sans argile, s'étend du calcaire. Lentement, telle une éponge gorgée d'eau, il restitue de l'eau à la vigne assoiffée. Ce terroir vient de trouver son millésime. Il est parti pour devenir aussi mythique que le millésime 1945. Je me permets de souligner l'application de l'équipe en place et son engagement pour la qualité. Bravo et merci Monsieur Philippe Dhalluin. Couleur sombre, noire, belle, pourpre. Nez intense, fin, fruité, subtil, profond, pur, que je n'ai jamais vu aussi floral. Entrée en bouche majestueuse et le vin ample et de suite plein, se développe puissant, riche et complexe en milieu de bouche. Il s'y arrête quelques instants puis se trame finement, pousse sur les joues et s'achève extrêmement long, sèveux, toujours très noble dans sa texture et son goût merveilleux de cabernet sauvignon. Extra-ordinaire. Bravo ! 2030 – 2100. 4/5/2017 Jamessuckling.com JAMESSUCKLING.COM (JAMES SUCKLING) : 100-100 / 100 This is a phenomenal, muscular red that shows incredible power and depth. Full-bodied and with great concentration of tannins but this remains agile and polished. The form to this is stupendous. Such precision and clarity. The new 1986 but better.