Mouton Rothschild - Pauillac 2016

Vinous

99

byNeal Martinthe8/13/2020

The 2016 Mouton-Rothschild has an understated bouquet at first, featuring scents of blackberry, bilberry and traces of kelp and brine. Wonderful delineation here, and it builds in intensity with a few swirls of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a velvety-smooth texture and an elegant, utterly beguiling finish that flirts with perfection. Astonishing. Kudos to Philippe Dhalluin, who will be retiring from his position at the end of the year. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

Jancis Robinson

19

byJancis Robinsonthe2/5/2020

Wine Advocate

100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe10/31/2019

Composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Mouton Rothschild has an opaque garnet-purple color. WOW—the nose explodes from the glass with powerful blackcurrant cordial, black raspberries, blueberry pie and melted chocolate notions, plus suggestions of aniseed, camphor, lifted kirsch and the faintest waft of a subtle floral perfume in the background. Full-bodied, concentrated, bold and totally seductive in the mouth, it has very fine-grained, silt-like tannins, while jam-packed with tightly wound fruit layers, finishing in this wonderful array of mineral sparks. Magic.

Wine Enthusiast

98

byRoger Vossthe5/1/2019

The rich fruit in this wine nearly envelops the tannins. Flavors of black plums, blackberries and blueberries meld with intense acidity to mask the power and concentration of the polished tannins. With this structure, will age for many, many years. Do not drink before 2026.

Yvesbeck.wine

101

byYves Beckthe3/20/2019

Pourpre profond aux reflets violets. Quel bouquet bouleversant, exceptionnel, fascinant. D'une subtilité et d'une finesse époustouflante, ce nez pose les jalons et crée une émotion intense. La mise en bouche est gracieuse, imposante, élégante. Bien évidemment, le palais continue dans cette ligne. Il est à la fois imposant de par sa puissance mais surtout impressionnant de par sa finesse. Le côté aromatique se révèle avec subtilité et gagne rapidement en intensité, en prenant place dans l'ensemble du palais, tandis que la structure acide assure brillamment les arrières et, en synthèse avec les tannins, assurent un brillant avenir. Je pense que Mouton 2016 est le digne successeur de 1986 et 1945… respectivement, un jour, il sera sur le podium des plus grands Mouton Rothschild. Finale fraîche, juteuse et persistante. 2028-2076 101/100

Jeb DUNNUCK

100

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/1/2019

Along with the Château Lafite, the 2016 Château Mouton Rothschild is the wine of the vintage from the Médoc and is a truly profound, magical, blockbuster wine in every sense. It’s based on 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised in new French oak. Boasting a saturated purple color as well as an extraordinary bouquet of thick black fruits, lead pencil shavings, new saddle leather, and burning embers, with just a hint of its oak upbringing, this beauty hits the palate with a mammoth amount of fruit and texture yet stays fresh, pure, and light on its feet, with a thrilling sense of minerality as well as building tannins on the finish. It’s one of the most profound young wines I’ve ever tasted, and while it will probably keep for three-quarters of a decade, it offers pleasure even today. Bravo!

Wine Spectator

98

byJames Molesworththe2/5/2019

A generous, pure and lush ball of Cabernet, with wave after wave of unadulterated cassis and blackberry puree flavors rolling through. Features notes of roasted apple wood and sweet tobacco, offset by a long tug of sweet earth, but that's all background music to the impressive core of fruit, which steams along like a cruise ship with enough stores in reserve to go around the world twice without stopping. Best from 2025 through 2045.   –JM

Jamessuckling.com

100

byJames Sucklingthe2/4/2019

Dark ruby, purple color. Aromas of blackcurrants, black truffle, crushed stone, licorice and hints of tar. Full-bodied, deep and vertical on the palate, drawing you in and down. The structure is very tannic and powerful, yet the tannins are folded into the wine. One of the most powerful Moutons ever for me. Try after 2027.

Vinous

100

byNeal Martinthe1/24/2019

The 2016 Mouton Rothschild bowled me over when I tasted it from barrel. Philippe Dhalluin compares it to the 1986 in terms of intensity of fruit, although there is more maturity and refinement in the tannins apropos of the 2016. Bottled in July 2018, this has an intense bouquet with pixelated black fruit, crushed stone, hints of blue fruit and a touch of India ink. But it is the delineation and focus that take your breath away. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannin framing the pure black currant and cassis fruit. The acidity is pitch-perfect, and there is a gentle but insistent grip toward the extraordinarily long finish. Racking my brains to think of another Mouton Rothschild that I have tasted over the last 20 years that was as good as this, I simply cannot come up with one.

Vinous

100

byAntonio Gallonithe1/21/2019

A towering, thrilling wine, the 2016 Mouton Rothschild is unbelievably beautiful today. Aromatics, fruit density and vertical structure all come together. In the glass, the 2016 is remarkably vivid and powerful, and yet a gentler, more feminine side emerges w time in the glass. The intense, mineral, savory profile recalls the 1986, but the 2016 has more grace, inner sweetness and sophistication than that wine. Even so, the 2016 is going to need at least a number of years in bottle before it starts drinking well, alth it won't be the bruiser the 1986 remains to this day. This is breathtaking wine from Mouton, Tecnical Director Philippe Dhalluin and his team.

Wine Advocate

100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe11/30/2018

The 2016 Mouton Rothschild is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, with the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot vinified together. It has a very deep purple-black color and slowly slides out of the glass with spicy notes of Sichuan pepper, cloves and cinnamon stick giving way to a core of perfumed black fruits and florals—blackcurrant cordial, candied violets, blackberry compote, rose hips and black plums—plus suggestions of espresso, damp soil, tar and beef drippings. Medium-bodied, the palate is very firmly structured and jam-packed with latent energy about to burst, offering superbly ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness to support the intense floral and black fruit layers and finishing very long and very minerally. Powerful, profound wine.

Decanter.com

99

byJane Ansonthe10/26/2018

A higher level of acidity than is usual for Mouton is buttressed by waves of fruit and tannin. It's a modern take on 1986 that shows the most wonderful precision of creme caramel, liquorice, blackcurrant, creme de cassis and cedar. it's opulent but also has great tension through the palate - a monumental Mouton that for me has gained in stature over the past two years of ageing. The idea of a drinking window almost feels like a mirage - the perfect moment is likely to recede into the distance time and time again. It could be drunk in the next decade perhaps, but it's going to take 20 years or more to really get into its stride. Easily one of the wines of the vintage, for me this is showing even better than during en primeur. 1% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

Drinking Window 2028 - 2045

WeinWisser

19

byTjark Witzgallthe5/22/2017

83 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 % Merlot, 1 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petit Verdot. Dunkles Purpur mit satter Mitte und lila Rand. Dicht verwobenes blaubeeriges Bouquet mit Brombeeren und Lakritze, dahinter schwarze Johannisbeerenund ein Touch After-Eight-Minze. Am Gaumen mit stützendem Tannin, fein aufrauend, aber in der Entwicklung am weitesten von allen drei Pauillac-Premiers, da ist Fülle und Frische bereits in Balance, ein beruhigender Mouton, der frühes Genussvergnügen bereiten wird.

Bettane & Desseauve

98-99

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

Immense réussite et expression quasi parfaite du terroir avec encépagement complet (83 % cabernet sauvignon et 15 % merlot). Qualité d’extraction du tannin exemplaire. Longueur et éclat uniques à ce stade en Médoc.

Wine Advocate

98-100

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

The 2016 Mouton-Rothschild is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the latter two co-fermented, picked from 26 September and finished on 14 October. As usual, it is being matured in 100% new oak. It has a very intense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cold limestone and crushed violet aromas that if anything, appear to gain vigor with aeration in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, juicy tannin. There is a lot of fruit packed into this Mouton-Rothschild and therefore one can feel the weight in the mouth, yet the acidity keeps everything on tip-toes. The finish has superb precision and opulence, completing a Mouton-Rothschild that will rivet you to the spot. Tasted on two occasions, the second confirming that this is simply a magnificent wine. Whichever artist eventually designs the label is going to be drinking well.

The Wine Cellar Insider

99-100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2017

Almost opaque in color, the wine is inky dark with a beautiful sheen to the edge. Blackberry, cassis, citrus, flowers, Cuban cigars and exotic spices are the first things you notice. Power balanced with stylishness, sweetness with acidity. This is pure silk and velvet in texture with the flavor of berries just picked off the vine. I timed the finish at over 60 seconds and this is just a baby! Imagine what this will be like when it’s mature! The blend comes from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. This is the first time since 2004 that Mouton Rothschild has been able to include Petit Verdot in the blend. At 13.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.76, the harvest took place between September 26 and October 14. The Grand Vin represents 53% of the harvest.

Vinous

95-98

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

On first impression, the 2016 Mouton Rothschild is incredibly reminiscent of the 1986, especially in its aromatics. On the palate, the 2016 naturally reflects the more finessed personality of the year as well as 30 years of continual refinements in vineyard and cellar work. Graphite, grilled herbs, smoke, crème de cassis, bittersweet chocolate and ripe plums are some of the many flavors that flesh out in the glass in an utterly captivating, exquisite Mouton that I had to taste twice and then directly from barrel because of its pure allure. Although it is early, the 2016 Mouton is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage.

Decanter.com

98

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2017

For the 2016 vintage, Philippe Dhalluin and his team have wrought a big, rich Mouton full of seductive grilled coffee bean, slate, graphite, tight cassis and bilberry. This has depth and impact and closely approaches the 2010. Astonishing! Clearly powerful but with the beauty and flourish of Mouton. It is a long lasting wine, just stretching out endlessly in front of you. The tannins are ever present and precise with a sweetness to them and a satin edge. This is 100% new oak, but has that 2016 trick of seeming perfectly integrated already. A wine to age then sink into on some happy future date. 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot (the last two were co-vinified, unusually). (Image is the 2014 bottle; the design for the 2016 label will be revealed later). Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

matthewjukes.com

19,5

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

(83 Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 Merlot, 1 Cabernet Franc, 1 Petit Verdot) | 13.3% alc. A very intriguing, luxurious nose, studded with plum and damson fruit is underlined with a hugely focussed and power- ful core of fruit which has masses of energy and depth. The oak is very evident but this is perfectly matched to the fruit and the whole package is immensely long. There are some dried fruit notes here and also some drier tannins, too, but this is a fantastic wine with serious gravitas. 19.5+

Jancis Robinson

18,5

byJancis Robinsonthe4/21/2017

83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot picked from 26 September (Merlot) until 14 October (Cabernet Sauvignon). Exceptional crimson. Real lift and transparency. Quite a soaring dry style with great texture and refreshment. Very strong style statement. Infusion of Cabernet. A sort of amalgam of cassis and tar in that very Mouton way but with 21st-century lift and transparency. Quite brave in a way. Bone dry and utterly embryonic compared with most of the 2016s (with the notable exception of Las Cases).18.5+

Wine Enthusiast

98-100

byRoger Vossthe4/19/2017

Barrel Sample. The opulence of this wine is very much in the tradition of the estate. This year, though, there is a level of freshness that's amazing. The generous tannins and acidity give the wine the perfect lift. It's a great wine from this estate, likely to mature for decades.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/10/2017

Boum ! Voici le Mouton Rothschild le plus extraordinaire que je goûte. Il dépasse le 1982, le 1986 et tous les autres millésimes que je connais en bouteilles.Dés octobre dernier, je savais que Saint-Estèphe, le voisin, avait parfaitement mûri son raisin en 2016. Je n'imaginais pas qu'à une encablure de là Mouton Rothschild tire un tel profit de l'année. Je craignais que son terroir chaud et précoce souffre de la sècheresse. C'était sans compter que sous cette couche épaisse de graves sans argile, s'étend du calcaire. Lentement, telle une éponge gorgée d'eau, il restitue de l'eau à la vigne assoiffée. Ce terroir vient de trouver son millésime. Il est parti pour devenir aussi mythique que le millésime 1945. Je me permets de souligner l'application de l'équipe en place et son engagement pour la qualité. Bravo et merci Monsieur Philippe Dhalluin.Couleur sombre, noire, belle, pourpre. Nez intense, fin, fruité, subtil, profond, pur, que je n'ai jamais vu aussi floral. Entrée en bouche majestueuse et le vin ample et de suite plein, se développe puissant, riche et complexe en milieu de bouche. Il s'y arrête quelques instants puis se trame finement, pousse sur les joues et s'achève extrêmement long, sèveux, toujours très noble dans sa texture et son goût merveilleux de cabernet sauvignon. Extra-ordinaire. Bravo ! 2030 – 2100.

Jamessuckling.com

100-100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

This is a phenomenal, muscular red that shows incredible power and depth. Full-bodied and with great concentration of tannins but this remains agile and polished. The form to this is stupendous. Such precision and clarity. The new 1986 but better.