2016 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac

“A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the latter two varieties vinified together, so small was the crop. As you might expect the élevage was in 100% new oak, for 18 months. Tasted at the estate after Château d’Armailhac and Château Clerc-Milon, this feels decisively darker and more concentrated than the other Rothschild wines. The nose is very different, showing a very fine combination of perfumed crushed-limestone rocks, with a seam of toasted oak, and a silky presence of dark and savoury fruits. The palate seems so composed and integrated, it feels almost effortless and pure as it rests in the mouth, with a broad wealth of super-cool fruit, wrapped up and lifted by the spice of the Mouton oak, while underneath there surges a fresh and defining streak of acidity. The tannins seem almost imperceptible, so tightly knit and silky are they, their presence suggested only at the finish of the palate, where the wine floors you with a flourish of complex flavours, all tobacco, toast, cigar box and grilled cherry fruit. Only at the very end do you realise there are also tannins here, which serve to wrap up the finish in a more confident manner. This is beautifully composed, an absolute stunner.” (12/2018)

“The 2016 Château Mouton Rothschild is nothing short of magical. It instantly begins to impress as it opens to seductive aromatics of blackberries and black currants woven together with espresso, charcoal, spring flowers, leather as well as hints of spice and gravel all taking shape in the glass. This continues to impress on the palate with its remarkable overall balance, concentration and silky, polished texture, which is beautifully underlined with a lovely trace of acidity. It shows wonderful precision and finesse through the finish, which leaves behind a long lasting impression. Overall, this is everything you want in a first growth Pauillac and it already showing exceptionally well. This is a simply breathtaking wine that should go down as one of the greatest vintages of Mouton ever made. (JD)” (10/2019)

“I believe the 2016 Château Mouton Rothschild will be one of the legendary wines of the 21st century, and it might be the finest wine I've ever tasted. Still deep purple-hued and incredibly young, it offers an incredible sense of purity and precision in its darker currant, blueberry, and cassis-like fruits as well as classic graphite, lead pencil, violet, and tobacco aromatics. With flawless balance and perfect integration of its fruit, acidity, oak, and tannins, this concentrated, full-bodied, utterly magical Pauillac is going to need 15 years to hit its prime drink window, and I suspect will see its 75th birthday in fine form. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 1% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.” (05/2023)

“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.” (02/2019)

“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. (LPB)” (10/2019)

“A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Mouton Rothschild has a pH of 3.62 and a very deep purple black color. It is very closed to begin, requiring a lot of swirling to unleash a powerful wall of crème de cassis, juicy black plums, and scents of boysenberries, followed by nuances of star anise, incense, violets, crushed rocks, and camphor, plus emerging iron ore and rose oil hints. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely packed with layer upon layer of black fruit preserves and perfumed floral and exotic spice accents, framed by beautifully ripe, plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with an epically long fruit and mineral firework display. Gorgeous! (LPB)” (12/2022)

“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 with 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.... This is breathtaking wine from Mouton, Technical Director Philippe Dhalluin and his team. (AG)” (01/2019)

“In 2016 Mouton has produced one of the top contenders for the wine of the vintage. Massive and profound, it also retains wonderful freshness which adds to the appeal of this monumental first growth. Deep and impenetrable in colour with cassis, exotic spice and lead-pencil/graphite notes on both nose and palate, this Mouton stays light on its feet whilst carrying the structure to age for 50 years. Still very young, this will probably be a 100-point wine with a few years extra ageing. (AH)” (12/2021)

“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. (for Decanter)” (06/2020)

“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. *Cellar Selection* (RV)” (05/2019)

“A generous, pure and lush ball of Cabernet, with wave after wave of unadulterated cassis and blackberry purée 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. *Collectibles* (JM)” (03/2019)

“Tasted blind. Rich, round and juicy. Very transparent and easy and beautiful. Just the job. Great balance. Glorious. 19/20 points (JR)” (02/2020)