Château Mouton Rothschild

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe10/28/2016

The 2013 Mouton-Rothschild has a conservative, straight-laced, tobacco-stained bouquet, nicely defined but lacking genuine depth. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, balanced with tobacco and red berry fruit, moderate depth with touches of dried herbs lining the finish. I can imagine this becoming approachable within a couple of years and yet the pedigree of the terroir percolates through with aeration. While not a great Mouton-Rothschild by any stretch of the imagination, this is a strong effort in a difficult vintage.

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

the3/31/2016

This delivers a pure, focused beam of cassis right from the start, driving through the finish while light iron, violet, singed apple wood and sweet tobacco notes form the backdrop. Has grip, but delivers more acidity than tannins overall. Though there's ample depth and power, this remains more sleek in feel. Best from 2018 through 2028.

Jamessuckling.com

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2016

A warm and delicious Mouton with light spice, currant, and hints of chocolate. Very subtle and refined. Full to medium body. Seamless tannins that dissolve on the finish. Wonderful length for the vintage. 89% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, and 4% cabernet franc. Salty and delicately fruity. Better in 2020 but beautiful now.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/29/2014

The 2013 Mouton Rothschild is the best of the Medoc first-growths in this vintage. It was the smallest crop at Mouton since 1969, even smaller than their 1991. Only 45% of the crop made it into the final blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. One of the few 2013s to reveal serious depth, it displays a dense saturated ruby/purple color along with spicy creme de cassis, licorice and forest floor characteristics. Elegant, medium-bodied and more concentrated than most of its peers, it even reveals some tannins, suggesting 2-5 years of bottle age may be needed. It should last for 15-20 years. Kudos to administrator Philippe Dhalluin.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90-93 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe5/16/2014

(89% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot and 4% cabernet franc): Dark red-ruby. Raspberry and blackberry aromas are complicated by floral red cherry and cocoa on the nose. Compellingly sweet and vibrant in the mouth, with a chewy underlying mineral character giving shape to the ripe red cherry flavors. Finishes pure and very long, with unusual depth of fruit and ripeness of tannins for the year. One of the very few 2013s that I think has the structure and the balance to age gracefully beyond 15 years. A beautifully made wine, Mouton is my choice for best Left Bank first growth of the year.

timatkin.com

92 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe5/7/2014

Some people have identified Mouton as one of the wines of the vintage, but it didn’t taste that way to me. It’s certainly a rich wine for the vintage, with plenty of oak and stuffing (thanks to 89% Cabernet), with sweet cassis and bramble fruit, but the finish seemed a little dry and overwooded to me. Maybe it needs time.

matthewjukes.com

17,5 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/23/2014

(89 Cabernet Sauvignon, 7 Merlot, 4 Cabernet Franc) Very attractive nose with some density and a hint of richness on the palate. Smart oak detail and it’s controlled, too. The overall package on the palate is quite tense and focussed but there is some power hidden here. Not exclusively black fruited, there are lighter red notes, too – all rather suave. The nose is superb and it rather masks the lack of action on the palate at the moment. I trust it will develop further on the palate.

Vinous

88-90 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/17/2014

Firm yet nicely integrated tannins form the backbone of the 2013 Mouton-Rothschild, giving the wine much of its energy and focus. Violets, lavender and menthol add nuance to the dark blue/purplish fruit. Mouton is one of the few Left Bank 2013s with dark tonalities of fruit, but the mid-weight structure is very much that of the vintage. The 2013 is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, harvested between September 30 and October 9.

My Bettane + Desseauve

18-18,5 / 20

the4/15/2014

Grande couleur, nez noble de cèdre et de tabac, petite pointe de fumé caractéristique, corps superbe, grande pureté de texture, tannin ferme, ultra classique du cabernet et du terroir, grande réussite, car ici la droiture du corps s’accompagne d’une chair qui la rend plus harmonieuse. Grand avenir.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/15/2014

The Grand Vin is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, the latter close to exceptional according to Philippe Dhalluin. It has less new oak (85%) because the new wooden vats impart their own raw woody character. It has a well-defined, classic bouquet that you might describe as "no frills". It does not have the usual Mouton flamboyance although that is not necessarily a bad thing. The palate is well balanced with clean and mineral-rich black fruit and a pleasant salty character towards the finish. Classic in style, this is a very fine Mouton with real panache.

Decanter.com

18,25 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/14/2014

Superb depth of colour, black fruits nose with spicy notes, slightly roasted coffee and bitter chocolate on the palate, Mouton's exotic hints, velvety texture, quite beautifully made.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/8/2014

Very aromatic and fresh with flowers, currants and cherries. Full to medium body with fine tannins and a bright, fruity finish. I like the way it builds on the palate at the end. Salty, too. 89% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot and 4% cabernet franc.

Wine Enthusiast

96-98 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/3/2014

This is a powerful and dense wine, with ripe and rich berry fruit notes. It’s balanced, showing strong tannins in harmony with concentrated fruit. It is rich, generous in texture and sure to age well.

René Gabriel

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/3/2014

89 % Cabernet Sauvignon,7 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc. Aufhellendes Granat mit mittlerer Dichte, feiner Rand. Delikates, beschwingtes Bouquet, rotes Cassis, Veilchen, Zimt, Marzipan, mit etwas Caramel und Vanillin unterlegt, lädt schön aus, zeigt aber relativ wenig Druck. Im Gaumen hat man das Gefühl einen trinkfertigen Wein zu degustieren, die Tannine sind fein, die Frucht ist bekömmlich und die Adstringenz ist im noblen, feinen, aber potentiell rückhaltigen Bereich, im Finale floral und saftig. Ein Mouton-light im etwas bessren Vinifikationsstil wie 1997. Das wird eine teuere Pauillac-Diät. Ich hoffe, dass er mit dem weiteren Ausbau wenigstens noch etwas Fett auf die hageren Rippen bekommt.

Wine Spectator

91-94 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2014

Shows solid flesh from the start, with plum paste notes that belie the vintage, bolstered by dark currant, crushed cherry and raspberry coulis flavors. Offers lots of anise and juniper hints through the finish, accented by an echo of licorice snap. Delivers impressive range and depth. Pure. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.