Château Mouton Rothschild

Jamessuckling.com

91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/17/2015

This is still youthful in appearance of dark ruby color. It sets an excellent example for the 1994 vintage with a spicy, toasty nose showing lots of blackcurrants and tar. It's full-bodied, refined and chewy. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1997

After less than persuasive performances in two potentially great years, 1989 and 1990, Mouton-Rothschild appears to have settled down, producing fine efforts in recent vintages, culminating with the enormously promising, unquestionably profound 1995. The 1994 appears to be the finest Mouton-Rothschild made following the 1986 and before the 1995's conception. The wine exhibits a dense, saturated purple color, followed by a classic Mouton nose of sweet black fruits intermingled with smoke, pain grillee, spice, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, with outstanding concentration, a layered feel, plenty of tannin, and rich, concentrated fruit, this wine is similar to the fine 1988. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025. By the way, the Dutch artist, Appel, has created a gorgeous label for the 1994. Although Mouton-Rothschild can be among the most inconsistent first-growths, when this estate gets everything right, the wine can be as compelling as any produced in Bordeaux.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

the1/31/1997

Dark-colored, with intense aromas of blackberries, tar and spice, and toasted oak notes as well. Full-bodied, with very silky tannins and a chewy, ripe fruit-accented finish. An impressive Mouton. Better in 1999.

Wine Advocate

89-90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/1/1996

Mouton's 1994 is revealing some of the vintage's high tannin in its deep ruby/purple color. The wine possesses fine density, medium body, and a toasty, spicy, oaky character along with some ripe cassis fruit. Reserved but promising, it will never be a blockbuster wine, but it is a noteworthy effort. I am not convinced that it is better than Mouton's very fine 1993, but it surpasses some of Mouton's more heralded vintages (i.e., 1989).

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/1/1995

Mouton-Rothschild's 1994 is undoubtedly a success. Made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, most of the harvest was completed between September 22-25, with a small percentage of the grapes picked as late as October 2. The wine possesses a healthy dark purple color, and Mouton's tell-tale, sexy nose of coffee, fruitcake, cassis, and spices. Rich, with medium to full body and undeniable power, this is a concentrated, structured wine with enough fat, flesh, and extraction to balance out the wine's formidable tannin level. It possesses better integration of new oak, as well as richer, riper fruit than I found in the 1990, 1989, or 1988. The 1994, which follows a strong effort from Mouton in 1993, was made in smaller quantities, as Mouton produced 20% less wine in 1994 than 1993. A riper, more tannic, fatter, complete and complex wine than the 1993, it should be cellared for 10 years and will last for 30+ years.