FIRST GROWTH BORDEAUX
Blend: 93 % Cabernet Sauvignon,7% Merlot
100 Points Vinous
The 2023 Mouton Rothschild is bright and explosive in the glass. Vibrant, rich, deep and so beautifully expressive, the 2023 Mouton is one of my early candidates for wine of the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon is bumped up to 93% (the highest ever, just behind the 2010), with 7% Merlot and no Cabernet Franc or Petit Verdot in the blend. Time in the glass brings out darker shades of fruit along the wine's complex, dynamic personality. This is a magnificent Grand Vin.
100 Points Jane Anson
This was one of my 100 point potentials when tasting En Primeur, and it's fully delivering. It has closed down in the way that Petit Mouton has opened up, and here I really feel the full power of the tannic grip, one of the highest amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon on record, coiled and still-concealing a ton of graphite, cocoa bean, cool blue fruits set against creamy damson, cigar box, crayon, sandalwood, incense, promise. A long lived Mouton, with depth, power and balance at just over 13%, the magic of these soils.
99 Points James Suckling
A deep and generous red with red and black currants, black truffles and blue fruit. Full-bodied and spicy but still in balance. Luscious and flamboyant, then it tightens at the end. The fruit is very transparent and verges on exotic. but then it holds back with the tannins. It's so velvety and integrated. It changes all the time in the glass.
99 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Another ultra-classic, virtually perfect Mouton from this team, the 2023 Château Mouton Rothschild sports a darker plum/purple hue as well as stunning aromatics of blackcurrants, graphite, chocolate, spicy wood, and smoke. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, with ripe, polished tannins, beautiful overall balance, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's a sensational 2023 with so much to love, and I'd gladly drink a bottle today, yet this will age gracefully for 30-40 years. Drink 2026-2060.
99 Points Vinous
The 2023 Mouton Rothschild is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintages on the Left Bank. Its balance of intense, super-concentrated fruit and equally imposing structure is spellbinding. Dark red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, pencil shavings and dried herbs gain intensity in the glass. I especially admire its vertical build and overall energy. This is an exciting young Mouton endowed with palpable dynamic energy. It's a superb effort from the team led by Technical Director Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy.
98 Points Decanter
Gorgeous red and black fruit on the nose, really fruit-forward and expressive, not so much on the mineral or floral side. Smooth and supple, this has great movement: a sense of life, depth and richness, so suave. The fruit and tannins fill the mouth, but with delightful coolness – blueberry and crisp cherry. Liquorice and wet stones also come through; graphite, chalk, mint, a touch of toast on the finish. Flashes of exoticism, as well as finesse. Structure and seriousness but with bounce, full of texture and nuance. Stylish and characterful, a wonderful Mouton.
96 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Mouton Rothschild unwinds in the glass with a rich bouquet of dark berries, cedar box, cigar wrapper and violets, framed by a generous application of toasty oak. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with a broad attack and a deep, layered, ample mid-palate, it's a fleshy, muscular wine, built around youthfully chalky tannins that will reward some bottle age.
Winemaker Note
The wine is a glittering, gleaming garnet red with a crimson hue. Refinement and precision are apparent from the outset, with aromas of fully ripe black berry fruit. Discreet and complementary touches of pastry shop, candy and dark chocolate offer a harmonious balance between freshness and opulence. Smooth and full-bodied, its powerful, stylish and harmoniously integrated tannins impart an attractive energy. Lead pencil and smoky, charry notes confer remarkable complexity and depth, while hints of toasted hazelnut and cocoa-bean linger long on the finish.
