Magnum Château Mouton Rothschild - Pauillac 2018

Wine Spectator

98 / 100

par James Molesworth le 01/02/2021

This large-scaled wine is brimming with cassis and distilled plum fruit that’s remarkably pure, focused and driven in feel, supported by a seamless, iron-clad and remarkably polished structure, doing its job without detracting from the fruit. Add in sparkles of savory, racy floral and sanguine accents, as well as some pretty ridiculous length, and you have another battleship of a wine in the making. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2030 through 2050. –JM

Falstaff

99 / 100

par Peter Moser le 29/01/2021

Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Farbkern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholzwürze, zart nach Zedern, frische, rotbeerige Nuancen, feiner Cassisanklang, feine Tabaknuancen, noch etwas reserviert. Saftig, reife Herzkirschen, angenehme Fruchtsüße, reife, seidige Tannine, lebendige Struktur, mineralisch, balanciert, wirkt bei aller Komplexität sehr leichtfüßig und finessenreich, bereits gut entwickelt, feinwürziger Nachhall, sehr große Länge. (2025 – 2070)

Wine Spectator

98 / 100

par James Molesworth le 26/01/2021

This large-scaled wine is brimming with cassis and distilled plum fruit that’s remarkably pure, focused and driven in feel, supported by a seamless, iron-clad and remarkably polished structure, doing its job without detracting from the fruit. Add in sparkles of savory, racy floral and sanguine accents, as well as some pretty ridiculous length, and you have another battleship of a wine in the making. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2030 through 2050. — JM

Yvesbeck.wine

99 / 100

par Yves Beck le 26/01/2021

Que de grâce et de puissance dans ce bouquet qui annonce d'entrée un grand vin. Beaucoup de fruits noirs, de notes lactiques, de sureau et de fraîcheur grâce à des nuances de menthe. La mise en bouche est dense, élégante, puissante mais également suave. Les tannins, eux, se révèlent petit à petit, avec beaucoup de précision pour atteindre leur amplitude en fin de bouche. Ils sont suaves, charnus et affichent une belle finesse de grains. Finale intense, d'une exceptionnelle persistance. Ce Mouton offre un grand potentiel et il rentre clairement dans la cour des très grands Moutons avec un charme qui évoque le millésime 1982.

Jamessuckling.com

100 / 100

par James Suckling le 20/01/2021

Exquisite purity of black currants, raspberries and some citrus. The aromas flow from the glass. Full-bodied with seamless tannins that coat the palate and then fall into the center, to deliver a thoroughly refined and harmonious young red. Endless finish. 86% cabernet sauvignon. This is the new 1959, one of the legendary vintages of Mouton.66 Try after 2026.

Decanter Magazine

100 / 100

par Jane Anson le 10/11/2020

This has so much tannic power, with density, layers and structure along with layers of blackberry, liquorice, baked earth, cigar box and the signature exotic spices of Mouton. A big, textured and complex wine that is taking it all in its stride. 100% new oak. There is the tiniest touch of Petit Verdot in the blend, but under 1%, so it’s not in the official figures. 62% of production went into the grand vin. 3.78pH. 88IPT. The artist for this vintage is Xu Bing.

Drinking Window 2028 - 2050

Vinous

95-97 / 100

par Neal Martin le 15/11/2019

The 2018 Mouton-Rothschild is blessed with a glorious and extremely pure bouquet of blackberry, wild strawberries, touches of blueberry and pressed violets, almost Margaux-like in style. As usual, the new oak is seamlessly integrated. There is an undercurrent of exoticism here, but it is very discreet and never overshadows the DNA of Mouton. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, a fine line of acidity and layers of opulent black fruit. This is one of the more extravagant Mouton-Rothschilds in recent years, a little sweeter on the finish compared to the previous two vintages, yet maintaining freshness and tension. It will be irresistible in its youth, although it will benefit from a decade in bottle.

WeinWisser

20 / 20

le 07/05/2019

Vinous

94-97 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 01/05/2019

The 2018 Mouton Rothschild is dense and unctuous in the glass, with striking textural depth and plenty of overall intensity. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, spice, leather and sweet spice infuse a Mouton that stands out for its unctuousness and fruit intensity. There is plenty of tannin, but it is nearly buried by the sheer voluptuousness of the fruit. In 2018, Mouton is radiant, sensual and impeccable in its balance, even if it doesn't possess the sheer visceral thrill, energy or pedigree of truly great vintages. The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.

Jeb DUNNUCK

96-98 / 100

par Jeb Dunnuck le 01/05/2019

Representing 76% of the total production, the 2018 Mouton-Rothschild checks in as 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc brought up in new oak. The most backward and reserved of the First Growths, this deeply colored beauty boasts a rich, layered bouquet of blackcurrants, graphite, scorched earth, and liquid violets. Deep, full-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it's more elegant than the opulently styled 2016, but it’s still an incredibly powerful and promising Mouton that’s going to live for half a century or more. 96-98+

Vinifera

97-99 /

par Jacques Perrin le 01/05/2019

Composé à 86% de Cabernet sauvignon et de 12% de merlot avec le solde en cabernet franc, il se distingue par par un corps vigoureux, frais, d'une très belle tenue, à lévolution continue, bâti sur un tanin juteux et que parachève une très belle finale soutenue.

La Revue du Vin de France

19,5-20 / 20

le 24/04/2019

The Wine Cellar Insider

98-100 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 23/04/2019

Opaque in color, the purple black hue is gorgeous. The perfume with its sea salt, lead pencil, blackberry liqueur, black currants, tobacco, spice and smoke is a knockout! That will keep you busy enough but it is on the palate where you'll really experience the wine as it hits and coats every nook and cranny in your mouth. The wine is lavish, dense, concentrated and showy. The naturally flamboyant nature of Mouton Rothschild comes though loud and clear. Even with all this voluptuousness, the wine is energetic and intense. The finish remains with you for well over 60 seconds. Clearly, the 2018 is going to be one of the great vintages of Mouton ever produced. The blend comes from 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc and reached 13.8% alcohol. The harvest took place from September 10 to October 3, the Grand Vin represents 66% of the harvest with very low yields of only 28 hectoliters per hectare.

Wine Advocate

97-99 / 100

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 23/04/2019

The 2018 Mouton Rothschild is composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc—there is also a splash of all the Petit Verdot they had, but it doesn’t even register in the percentage. Grapes were harvested September 10 to October 3, and the wine was blended at the beginning of December; it has 13.8% alcohol, and the tannins were slightly higher this year. Deep purple-black in color, it is a little closed to begin compared to some 2018s, slowly unfurling to reveal a profound nose of warm black plums, blackcurrant cordial, star anise, blueberry pie and mocha with suggestions of candied violets, oolong tea, camphor and unsmoked cigars plus a touch of crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers waves of opulent, spiced black and blue fruits with seamless acid lifting this gorgeous mouthfeel that is at once plush from the ripe fruit and firm and grainy from the super ripe tannins, finishing very long and wonderfully creamy.

Decanter.com

99 / 100

par Jane Anson le 17/04/2019

This has incredible persistency and density of flavour in 2018. It’s extremely well knitted with everything drawn out and taut through the mid palate, slowly layering on the succulent, plump notes of damson, juice-filled blackberries, charcoal, menthol, cigar box, pencil lead and black chocolate that is a signature of the vintage.

I always love that this property shares the same gravel-filled plateau as Lafite and yet the two have such different personalities and interpretations of vintages – with Mouton here absorbing the richness of the year and adding a touch of glamour into the wine as always.

The alcohol, while still very balanced compared to most in the vintage, is unusually high at Mouton because, as managing director Philippe Dhalluin says; ‘usually the poor soils at Mouton mean the grapes make tannins but not sugar, but in 2018 they made both’.

There is the tiniest touch of Petit Verdot in the blend but under 1% so it’s not in the official figures. 100% new oak which has been beautifully integrated. 62% of production went into the grand vin. 3.78pH. 88IPT. The artist design for the 2018 label will be revealed later.

Wine Enthusiast

97-99 / 100

par Roger Voss le 17/04/2019

This wine is ripe and juicy, packed with black fruits and generous tannins that sit on a velvety texture. It is dense, concentrated and intensely structured in bold tannins, but still the purity of the dark shines through.

Jamessuckling.com

100 / 100

par James Suckling le 12/04/2019

I am a little bit speechless about this one. I have not seen such earthy and totally deep character of the soil in a young Mouton in my career. Of course, I didn’t taste 1945 or 1959 when they were young, but I have been lucky enough to have a few bottles in my life. There is really terroir-driven character to this. Layered and so intense with polished and incredible tannins.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

99 / 100

par Jean-Marc Quarin le 08/04/2019

Yvesbeck.wine

98-99 / 100

par Yves Beck le 01/04/2019

86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Pourpre violacé. Que de finesse et de complexité. D’abord le nez s’affiche de manière filigrane, multifacettes. Il se révèle au fil des secondes et commence par présenter le terroir au travers de cèdre et de graphite. Le fruit se révèle par des notes de mûres et de cassis. Beaucoup de fraîcheur. Finalement je relève un peu de café, de torréfaction, mais dans une mesure filigrane. La mise en bouche est gracieuse, élégante, subtile et imposante. Les tannins se révèlent tout doucement, lentement et sont subtilement puissants ! Ils assurent idéalement les arrières, confèrent une touche suave et promettent un avenir brillant. Encore une fois, un très grand Mouton. Beaucoup de finesse et de persistance. 2025-2052