Château Mouton Rothschild

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe1/31/2017

Tasted at the Mouton-Rothschild vertical in London, the 2008 Mouton Rothschild has always been in the shadow of the ensuing couple of vintages, but I was not the only person at this tasting that commented upon the class in show here. It replicated previous showings: cedar and graphite present and correct, though accompanied by something a little more exotic - eucalyptus maybe? The palate is beautifully balanced, very detailed and extremely fresh. This conveys so much energy and animation before reverting towards a more classic and structured, pencil lead finish. Those in the know will stash up on the 2008 Mouton Rothschild because it is destined to turn into one of the "dark horses" of the decade. Tasted May 2016.

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/17/2015

Aromas of roasted fruit plus hints of grilled meat and chocolate. Full body, firm and chewy tannins and bright acidity. Tangy and lively. Needs time still to come together to soften the tannins. A little hard. Better in 2018.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe12/30/2014

From an underrated vintage for many Bordeaux wines, the 2008 Mouton-Rothschild reveals classic notes of cigar box, forest floor, underbrush, vanillin, camphor, chocolate and abundant blackcurrant and blackberry fruit. Beautifully finessed tannins coat the mouth, giving the wine a savory, expansive texture with no hard edges. It still has some tannin to shed, but this beauty is evolving quickly, displaying wonderful secondary nuances. It should age for 25+ years.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

The final blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot exhibits tell-tale black currant liqueur, incense, charcoal and floral-like characteristics. The oak is pushed to the background, one of the major improvements director Philippe Dalhuin has made at this estate. Full-bodied, deep and impressively endowed, it is a deep, rich, less massive effort than either the 2010 or 2009. This gorgeous Mouton will be drinkable in 4-5 years and age effortlessly for three decades. Drink 2015-2045. 94+ points

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

byJames Molesworththe12/15/2010

Pure, unadultered Cabernet, with blackberry, black currant and fig fruit seamlessly held together by mouthwatering acidity, fine grained grip and backed by a long, smoldering finish of tobacco and iron. Dense but rounded, with the length to last a decade or more in the cellar. Best from 2013 through 2022. - J.M

Falstaff

90-92 / 100

the6/30/2009

(83% CS, 17% ME) Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, jugendliche Reflexe, violetter Rand. In der Nase feines Cassis, Brombeergelee, etwas Biskuit und tabak, sehr von reifen Cabernetnoten geprägt. Am Gaumen elegant und fein, finessenreich struktugenehme Waldbeerfrucht, mit tabakiger Würze unterlegt, pfeffrig im Abgang, eher rotbeerigkirschig im Nachhall, angenehme Extrajtsüße im Nachhall, gutes Potenzial, ein frischer, finessenreicher Mouton.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92-94 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe5/28/2009

(a blend of 83% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot) Saturated purple-ruby. Pure, deep aromas of blackberry, cigar box and graphite, lifted by a delicate peppery note. Fresh balanced, scented and quite suave, with pure mineral, plum and redcurrant flavors. The slowly building, very long finish features ultra-smooth tannins and compelling subtle minerality. Yet another success for Mouton, and a testament to the talents of Philippe Dhalluin, the estate manager who came over from Branaire-Ducru and has really turned things around at Mouton. Bordeaux insiders know not to miss out on the fantastic '06 Mouton, which I rate ahead of their '05.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/5/2009

40 % Grand Vin (160 000 Flaschen – halb so viel wie beim Jahrgang 1970). 83 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 17 % Merlot. Mitteldunkles Granat, recht satte Mitte. Aromatisches Bouquet mit viel Wärme im ersten Nasenansatz, Arabica-Kaffee, dunkles, frisch gebackenes Brot, Pflaumen, Cassis, Giandujaschokonoten, Zedernduft und dominikanischer Tabak, über allem liegt ein feiner Karamellfilm. Süsser Gaumen, deutliche Mouton-Röstnoten, die Tannine sind – trotz innerem Rückhalt – schon recht rund und verleihen diesem Wein bereits in der Primeurverkostung Sex-Appeal. Im Finale Lakritze, Holunder und Cassisnoten mit wiederum reichlich Schokolade. Ein grosser Mouton, der in der Genussreife auf 19/20 steigen kann. 18/20 2018 – 2038

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2009

Mouton’s vineyard was harvested between October 2-15, and the wine possesses an unexpectedly high pH of 3.85 (high for this vintage, but normal for a riper year). Made from low yields of 34 hectoliters per hectare, it achieved a natural alcohol content of 13.2%, one of the highest ever for this estate. Made from 54% of the production, the 2008 Mouton Rothchild’s final blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot has resulted in an atypically sweeter, more direct and opulent, fleshy Mouton. Keep in mind that this cuvee, because of the high Cabernet Sauvignon content as well as the terroir, is often backward, structured, and nearly foreboding in its youth. However, I do not think the 2008 will behave in that manner. There is plenty of tannin and exceptional density and ripeness, but the tannins are velvety, and I was amazed by how charmingly forward and fleshy this wine already is. A deep purple color, sweet aromas of creme de cassis, smoke, cedar, and an unmistakable floral component (another characteristic of the Cabernet Sauvignon in 2008) are found in this precocious, succulent Mouton that should firm up and put on more weight with aging. My score is somewhat conservative because it is hard to forget their prodigious 2006, but the 2008 will provide far more enjoyment and pleasure over the near-term than the 2006. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035.

La Revue du Vin de France

17.50-18.50 / 20

the4/29/2009

On retrouve dans cet échantillon tout l'esprit baroque des grands millésimes de Mouton. En barriques depuis mi-décembre d'une grande richesse de matière avec une très belle trame de tanins. Un vrai Mouton avec ce qu'il a de meilleur dans on côté sudiste et épicé (exceptionnellement, il dépasse les 13° en 2008). Une note sucrée qui consititue l'attaque apporte chair et volupté des tanins et maintient le vin au plus haut de la sensation gustative en finale. Eclatant.

TAST

19 / 20

the4/23/2009

Encore une fois c’est la perfection dans l’élaboration qui frappe dès le premier coup de nez, avec des arômes infiniment civilisés par un boisé d'une qualité étonnante. Le corps, la texture et la longueur semblent l’expression la plus achevée du millésime sur Pauillac, dans un esprit différent de Latour.

Jancis Robinson

18.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2009

Tighter and denser than the Petit Mouton with hidden depths and less obvious seduction. Very neat and firm with some fine polishing of texture and definite minerality at its core. Dry finish. Very fresh and neat. Finer boned than many Moutons – almost playing the Lafite card. All very introvert but nothing flashy. I found myself swallowing this at 9.20am! Well done. Drink 2018-32

Decanter Magazine

18.50 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/14/2009

(83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot.) Fine purple-red, fine aromatic elegance, blackcurrants present, but subdued and a lovely satiny texture takes over with almost creamy tannins, a finely-grained wine almost understated now but with internal power and length that will continue to develop in barrel to show the lush fruit that is typical of Mouton. Drink 2017-35.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/7/2009

The ’08 Mouton is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot (a substantially higher proportion of the former.) The nose is already quite complex: blackberry, oyster shell, briary, a touch of seaweed. Good definition, quite a mercurial nose, the oak well integrated. The palate is superb: great fruit intensity, this is an ebullient Mouton Rothschild with a real sense of energy and tautness. Superb balance, great poise, blackberry, boysenberry and a wonderful sense of mineralité towards the assertive finish. A certain sense of femininity about this Mouton. Regal! Tasted April 2009.

Wine Spectator

91-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2009

Shows violet and crushed berries, with lots of other floral and fruit character. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long finish. Very, very pretty.