Château Mouton Rothschild

Jamessuckling.com

99 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/17/2015

What an awe-inspiring nose of currants, shaved lead pencil, white truffles and earth. It's full-bodied enveloped by silky tannins and leading to an earthy and long finish. Old, traditional Bordeaux with soul and remarkable complexity. Sensational. Drink now.

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe9/1/1998

The rich, complex, well-developed bouquet of oriental spices, toasty oak, herbs, and ripe fruit is wonderful. On the palate, the wine is also rich, forward, long, and sexy. It ranks behind both Haut-Brion and Chateau Margaux in 1985. I am surprised by how evolved and ready to drink this wine is. Readers looking for a big, boldly constructed Mouton should search out other vintages, as this is a tame, forward, medium-weight wine that is close to full maturity. It is capable of lasting another 15+ years. This estate compares their 1985 to their 1959, but to me it is more akin to their 1962 or 1953. Anticipated maturity: Now-2012. Last tasted, 10/97.

Wine Spectator

89 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe9/15/1996

Surprisingly elegant, with lovely tobacco, cherry and berry aromas that blossom on the palate. Moderately soft tannins and a sweet, fruity finish. All finesse and ready to drink.--Cabernet Challenge.

Wine Advocate

85 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/1/1995

Mystery Wines. In the largest of the tastings of 1985 California cabs, there was a mystery wine in each flight. Following are my notes on these wines and what wine I thought each was. Yes, I know, this wine cannot possibly merit a score this low. But the purpose of this report is to share in the most candid fashion as possible my impressions and raw tasting notes. As I indicated earlier I mistook the 1985 Field Stone Statton Family Reserve for the Mouton. I thought the Mouton was a relatively light, fully mature 1985 California Cabernet. My notes read, "herbal, spicy, ready to drink, sweet, round, attractive, but straightforward and not very concentrated." I cannot believe this wine did not perform better, but it did not show well in this flight of 10 1985 California Cabernet Sauvignons. It was blown away by the likes of the Groth regular bottling, Spottswoode, Caymus Special Selection, Field Stone, and Joseph Phelps Eisele Vineyard. C'est la vie.

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/1/1993

This estate compares their 1985 to their 1959, but to me it is more akin to their 1962 or 1953. A rich, complex bouquet of soy, leather, herbs, toasty oak, and ripe fruit is wonderful. This supple, velvety-textured, rich, forward, long and sexy Mouton is clearly the finest Medoc first-growth in 1985. Anticipated maturity: Now-2010. Last tasted, 8/93.

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe12/1/1992

Last Tasted 8/92 I continue to be surprised, even shocked, by how evolved and easy to drink this wine is. This might well be another example of a 1985 that turns out to resemble the property's glorious 1953. Mouton's 1985 exhibits a powerful fragrance of herbs, smoke, roasted cassis fruit, and spice. While not a blockbuster, the wine is medium-bodied, extremely precocious, soft, and ripe, with gobs of lovely blackcurrant fruit, low acidity, and a lush texture. Because of its forward, succulent, seductive personality I would not hesitate to open a bottle now, yet it should last for at least 15-20 more years.