Château Mouton Rothschild - Pauillac 2009

Jamessuckling.com

98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/17/2015

Super fruity and layered with incredible depth and length. Currants, plums, dried strawberries and cherries. Full body, soft and round tannins and gorgeous fruit. Sexy and voluptuous. Better in 2020.

Wine Advocate

99 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe12/30/2014

The 2009 Mouton-Rothschild is as concentrated as the 2010, but it presents itself in a more consumer-friendly, seductive style. Opulently textured and full-bodied with gorgeous levels of crème de cassis, melted licorice, espresso roast and chocolate, it possesses high but sweet, velvety tannins, massive body, and fabulous purity as well as length. This could turn out to be a candidate for perfection in another 8-10 years. It will drink well for 30-50 years, but will always be much more approachable and charming than its 2010 counterpart.

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe1/1/2013

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Mouton '09 is more showy and decadent on the nose with more glycerine and prominent use of new oak. It does not have the delineation of the following two wines: perhaps slightly more New World in style (not intended pejoratively.) The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins. There is a thread of citrus freshness that neatly counterbalanced the lush macerated black fruit, whilst the finish is comparatively opulent and generous. Lovely... I suspected this actually might be its neighbour, Pontet-Canet! Tasted January 2013.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

97 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe7/31/2012

Opaque, almost impenetrable purple-ruby. Closed nose hints at ripe dark plum, cassis, violet, coffee, minerals and ink. Opulent flavors of blackcurrant, minerals and herbs are pure and clean, with harmonious acidity lifting and extending them on the very long, rich, suave finish. This wine has improved considerably since the Primeurs. In fact, this is even more true of the 2010, which makes me think that Mouton may now require extra patience and leeway when it's tasted during the spring following the harvest. Another stellar wine for this property. 97(+?)points

Wine Advocate

99 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/29/2012

The 2009 Mouton Rothschild has a striking label from Anish Kapoor. The wine is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot that begs comparison as a young wine with what the 1982 tasted like in 1985 or, I suspect, what the 1959 may have tasted like in 1962. Representing 50% of their production, the wine has an inky purple color to the rim and not terribly high alcohol for a 2009 (13.2%), but that is reflected by the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a remarkable nose of lead pencil shavings, violets, creme de cassis and subtle barrique smells. It is stunningly opulent, fat, and super-concentrated, but the luxurious fruit tends to conceal some rather formidable tannins in the finish. This is an amazing wine that will be slightly more drinkable at an earlier age than I thought from barrel, but capable of lasting 50 or more years. Kudos to the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and the entire Mouton team, lead by Monsieur Dalhuin.(99+ points)

Jamessuckling.com

98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2012

The pureness of fruit in this on the nose is phenomenal, with crushed currants and cassis. It's deep, so deep. Also some foie gras. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and an insanely decadent finish, with meat, game and dark fruits. Goes on for minutes. Decadent and turns to dark fruits cassis and licorice. Warm and voluptuous wine. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. Try in 2020.

Wine Spectator

98 / 100

byJames Molesworththe1/11/2012

This is pure, unadulterated Cabernet, with a gorgeously creamy mouthfeel to the beam of cassis that's backed by extra layers of cherry eau de vie, red licorice and raspberry ganache. Obviously dense but amazingly supple, with terrific supported by a classic, iron-fueled spine. This has power if it needs it, but it's all about length. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2020 through 2040-J.M.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

95-98 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2010

((a blend of 88 % cabernet sauvignon and 12 % merlot; 13.1% alcohol; pH 3.8; IPT) 78): Deep ruby. Flamboyant, superripe aromas of spicy blackcurrant, strawberry jam, smoky plum, vanilla, exotic wood and minerals scream Mouton (this would rate 100 points for its nose!). Rich, lush and powerful, with impressive fullness and volume to its ripe strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant, sweet spice and cedar flavors. I picked up a hint of pomegranate on the end. The slightly chewy tannins are a bit less fine-grained tannins at this stage than I would have expected, but this is a monumental and extraordinarily long wine that must be among the four or five best ever made at this estate. (Le Petit Mouton de Mouton-Rothschild, which I rated 86-89, will give pleasure while your Mouton matures in the cellar. Its pretty nose is dominated by cabernet franc notes of violet, cocoa and white pepper, and its plum and blackberry flavors are complicated by an intriguing earthy note on the back. With moderate generosity of texture, it displays a slightly aggressive mouth feel.)

Le Figaro

97-100 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe6/30/2010

Depuis 2004, le château a réussi une série brillante de vins et le 2009 s’inscrit dans cette continuité avec un vin à la fois flamboyant, très Mouton, mais aussi fin et très élégant, d’une impressionnante concentration qui nécessitera de nombreuses années pour atteindre son apogée. Robe très sombre. Nez épices, mûre, flamboyant. En bouche, l’attaque est dense, le milieu de bouche compact, tannique, petite dureté, belle longueur. Le vin est dense, très concentré, les tannins ne sont pas encore entièrement en place, mais l’ensemble impressionne. 88 % cabernet-sauvignon, 12 % merlot.

timatkin.com

94 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2010

13.1 % alcohol. 88CS, 12M Some people have claimed that this is one of the wines of the vintage, but I don’t see it myself. Tasting it blind, you could mistake it for a top Chilean Carmenère. It has lots of charry, sweet oak, dense, concentrated, chocolately fruit and lush tannins. Lots of bling, then, but not a whole lot of finesse or balance. It’s flashy and impressive, but where’s the soul? 15+ years.

La Revue du Vin de France

18,5-19,5 / 20

the5/31/2010

2009 est le Mouton le plus marqué par le cabernet depuis quarante ans, il en comporte 88% pour 12% de merlot. Il s'impose comme la plus belle réussite du cru depuis le 1982, qu'il dépassera. Il faudra toutefois être patient, car ce vin hors norme possède une matière d'une densité phénoménale, mais aussi un fruit éclatant. La longue finale explose et se prolonge plus d'une minute, alors que les tanins possèdent un soyeux parfait.

Le Point

19 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/6/2010

Fruits noirs, mûre, encre, prune, bouche opulente, beau fruit généreux, frais, millieu de bouche gras, onctueux. Beaucoup de moelleux, peut-être moins en finesse que Lafite mais très rond, très doux, très beau fruit, très Mouton ... O= 2017 G=30 ans

TAST

19,5 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2010

Certainement le Mouton le plus complet, le plus idéalement luimême depuis 1949, avec tout le raffinement d’une technique de vinification moderne. Admirable du début à la fin de bouche, malgré la colossale dimension du tanin. Quel plaisir de voir ces Premiers à leur plus haut niveau, quelle frustration de savoir que les prix qu’ils atteindront les mettront hors d’atteinte des amateurs européens.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2010

Tasted at the château. A blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot, the highest percentage of Cabernet since 1963. Delivering 13.1% alcohol and an IPT was close to 80. The nose is tight at first and demands so coaxing from the glass, but unfurls to reveal a very pure aromatic profile: quite strict, more like Grand Puy Lacoste, a touch of smoke, very fine mineralité. The palate is medium-bodied very precise, supple tannins, superb Cabernet Sauvignon, taking time to open up but it does towards the finish, touches of tobacco and sous-bois underlying the ripe but not decadent fruit. The tannins are not quite as fine as Latour, but there is a lovely sensuality on the finish. Tasted March 2010.

Falstaff

98-100 / 100

byPeter Moserthe4/30/2010

Intensive dunkle Beerenfrucht, reife Zwetschken, Brombeergelee, feine Kräuterwürze, ein klein wenig verschlossen. Frisch, komplex, elegante Materie, sehr gut eingebundene Tannine, wirkt kühl, elegant, tabakige Würze im Abgang, Vin de Garde.

Periodic Review of Wine

96-99 / 100

byAlan Duranthe4/28/2010

One of the crowing achievements of the vintage! The deeply saturated purple colored Mouton has to be tasted for its sheer concentration. The complex fragrance boasts spilled-ink, blackberry liqueur, crushed stone. Asian spices, crème de cassis, and smoke. It is incredibly youthful at this stage when compared to others, yet this full-bodied, dense, potent, inky-flavored wine offers massive extract of fruit, a wonderful vibrancy, and a building of nuances that offer noteworthy lenght. Wow! This is a wine for a generation! Maturity period 2017-2050+

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/28/2010

This is the most backward and unevolved of all the Left Bank (Medoc) first-growths. In 10-20 years, the 2009 Mouton Rothschild should rank alongside the greatest vintages of the last three decades (1986 and 1982). Yields were a small 30 hectoliters per hectare, the final blend is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot, and the finished alcohol is 13.2% (not particularly high in this vintage). The pH is 3.81, and the index of tannins, the highest ever measured, a whopping 20% higher than the next highest vintage. The tannins, while present, are silky and wellintegrated, one of the hallmarks of the 2009 vintage. An inky/purple color is accompanied by classic aromas of creme de cassis, violets, and hints of graphite and background oak. The overwhelming impression is one of layer upon layer of fruit, full-bodied opulence, and good structure. It tastes as if it were 2-3 months old rather than a post-malolactic, fully assembled barrel sample ... it’s that young, but so incredibly promising. A 50- to 100-year wine? Probably. (Tasted once.) (96-98+) points

Anthony Rose

95-97 / 100

byAnthony Rosethe4/26/2010

The typical fanfare that greets you at Mouton-Rothschild is thanks mainly to the presence of Baroness Philippine, who was actually very charming and approachable and spoke to everyone, with suitably flattering comments. She is a first-class saleswoman with a regal persona who likes to compare herself to the Queen Mother. I think she probably drinks better than the Queen Mother ever did. This wine, which is 82% cabernet sauvignon and 12% merlot, is dense in colour, showing a fair whack of new oak on the nose; it’s big, ripe and powerful, with almost chocolatey sweet fruit quality, and quite obvious sweet vanilla oak infusing the wine at this stage; it's pretty chunky and firm with good fresh dark blueberry and cassis fruits, spice and firm backbone;very good concentration of black fruits which is overall well-balanced. Perhaps not quite the elegance of Lafite or the power and grandeur of Latour, but a fine effort in a big, showy, New World style.

Wine Spectator

97-100 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/9/2010

I am speechless over the nose in this wine. Mint, blackberry, currant and black licorice turn to flowers such as lilacs and roses. Wow. It fills your mouth with the same fruit, but with an intensity of superpolished tannins. It finishes with complex yet reserved coffee, toasted oak and ripe fruit and then in two or three minutes it becomes milk chocolate. Just a joy to taste. Best Mouton since 1982 or 1986; in fact, it's like a blend of the two. A perfect Mouton? 88 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 12 percent Merlot.

Decanter Magazine

19 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/9/2010

Black red, concentrated black fruits, rich satiny/velvety yet firm texture, rich, plummy, spicy, an explosion of aromas and flavours, surrounded and controlled by superb tannins, a sensually expressive wine. Drink 2016-40.

Jancis Robinson

18,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/7/2010

48% of the crop, picked 3 days earlier than usual because the grapes were so ripe. Average yield 45 hl/ha. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot. Very dark indeed. Very Mouton. Very exotic, minerals, spice and old ladies’ handbags. Lovely topnotes. Real excitement on the nose here. Obviously great density but lots of grace notes. Lovely palate entry and glossy texture. Then again drier and a little more astringent than its peers on the finish. A difficult wine to mark because the nose is SO gorgeous! I think it may require just a bit more patience than some. Just seemed in a slightly low register when I tasted it. All the Mouton wines had ruder tannins than usual in 2009. 13.1%. Drink 2020-2040