Mathusalem Château Mouton Rothschild

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/17/2015

Fabulous on the nose with aromas of currants, cedar, sweet tobacco, incense, and flowers. Full-bodied, with very fine silky tannins and similar flavors as the aromas. A slightly green undertone on the palate. Drink now. Decant an hour before serving.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/1/1999

This estate's staff believes that the 1996 Mouton-Rothschild is very complex. I agree that among the first-growths, this wine is showing surprising forwardness and complexity in its aromatics. It possesses an exuberant, flamboyant bouquet of roasted coffee, cassis, smoky oak, and soy sauce. The impressive 1996 Mouton-Rothschild offers impressive aromas of black currants, framboise, coffee, and new saddle leather. This full-bodied, ripe, rich, concentrated, superbly balanced wine is paradoxical in the sense that the aromatics suggest a far more evolved wine than the flavors reveal. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. By the way, the 1996 blend consists of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc.

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/31/1999

Gorgeous aromas of spices, berries, chocolate and raspberries introduce this pedigreed bottling. A glorious young wine that gets better and better as you taste it, it's full-bodied and incredibly silky, with super-integrated tannins and a long, long aftertaste. Best after 2004.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe9/1/1998

Although the 1996 is not as flattering and opulent as the stunning 1995 Mouton-Rothschild, it is an impressive wine, but discipline will be required. The wine's dense black/purple color is accompanied by a tight but sweet nose of black fruits, wood, cassis, and vanillin. Less outrageously flamboyant when compared to the 1995, this is a structured, powerful, tannic, medium-bodied Mouton that is marvelously concentrated and pure, but in need of a minimum of 10-15 years of cellaring. In some years Mouton can produce wines that are too hard and tannic (1990), but that will not be the case with their 1996, a wine that possesses considerable stature and intensity. It has the fruit, extract, and depth to stand up to the wine's impressive structural components. Mouton's 1996, a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, has 10% more Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend than the spectacular 1995. The harvest began on September 30 and finished October 9, stopping for two days during that period. Over 400 harvesters were utilized. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2040. P.S. If this wine continues to flesh out, look for an even higher evaluation. Last tasted 3/97

Wine Advocate

95-96 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/1/1998

The evolution of the 1996 (which I retasted in late March prior to bottling) continues to confirm that this vintage is indeed awesome. The wine (which I would now rate as high as 95-96), is looking extraordinary as it enters into its last few months of barrel age. Massive, thick, and rich, it looks to be as prodigious as the slightly softer 1995. It is a sensational Mouton that appears to be every bit as complete and potentially grand as the other Medoc first-growths in this vintage.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/1/1998

Made from a blend virtually identical to the 1995 (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Merlot), the 1996 has taken on weight and richness since I tasted it in spring, 1997. An opaque purple color is accompanied by an impressive, somewhat undeveloped but gorgeously pure creme de cassis nose with Asian spices, licorice, and smoky oak in the background. Sweet, full-bodied, powerful, and rich, with formidable extract, ripe tannin, and a layered impression, this wine builds to a blockbuster finish. I am super-impressed by this wine's evolution during 1997, as it now looks to be a great Mouton which I underrated when I first tasted it. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030.