Château Mouton Rothschild 2020

Dark fruits on the nose, blackcurrants and cherries with savoury nuances of dark chocolate and tobacco. Fresh and forward on the palate, this hits you square on, still very lean and direct, almost piercing and severe in its intensity and drive, though wonderfully precise: it’s like an arrow. Serious and focused yet full and layered, the texture is lovely, a slight graininess that lingers, but it’s the acidity and the fruit purity that are so excellent — they give such a sense of vibrancy and make this wine so thrilling. You get a feeling of pent-up energy, but after a few minutes the slight density of the ripe fruit comes through, giving some plushness and weight. I love the Cabernet details and the mineral element that leaves the mouth cool and fresh. A well-constructed, subtle beauty.

The purity of blackcurrants, blueberries, crème de cassis, and flowers. Hints of subtle spearmint. Iron. Blood orange. Medium-bodied with a compact palate, like a cylinder of perfectly ripe fruit and fine tannins. A million layers of tight-grained tannins. It goes on and on. Such freshness and weightlessness to it. Ethereal. New classicism. A modern take on 1986. 12.79% alcohol. 84% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Drink after 2030 but hard to resist now.

The 2020 Mouton Rothschild is very clearly one of the great, great wines of the Left Bank in 2020. All the elements are in perfect balance. A wine of total sensuality and nuance, Mouton is all finesse in 2020, all elegance. An explosion of dark cherry fruit, plum, pomegranate, mint and cinnamon are all amplified. From barrel, the 2020 Mouton hinted at greatness. Today, that greatness is evident. The rich, vibrant finish is a thing of beauty.

Truffles, cigar box, cedar chest, smoke, Cuban cigar wrapper, spice and dark, almost 100% cocoa, chocolate. Perfectly perched between its elegant and showy side, the fruits are silky, ripe, spicy, and intense, but in a relaxed manner. There is purity, length, and vibrancy, giving the wine a racy, sensuous appearance. The seamless finish is perfectly balanced, with all its layers of polished, sensuous, silky fruits. The wine blends 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, 13.1% ABV, pH 3.8. Yields were low at 32 hectoliters per hectare with only 49% of the harvest going into the Grand Vin, so not much wine was made. The harvest took place September 7-September 24. Drink 2028-2060.

Deep dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, opaque core, delicate rim brightening. Intense black forest berry fruit, tobacco, nuances of cedar and mint, multifaceted and inviting. Complex, balanced and juicy, fine cassis, ripe cherries, fresh acid framework, fine, supporting tannins, an incredibly finessed, light-bodied Mouton, mineral and long lasting, a hint of nougat in the finish, great future, definitely needs to be locked away for a few more years. (2028-2070).

Excellent purity, depth and definition, another very cabernet, very Pauillac expression with layers of inky dark fruit, crème de cassis, cigar box, roasted coffee, some sage and mint aromas. Very dense and concentrated with great power and precision, a benchmark muscular example without heaviness with copious powdery tannin, bright freshness and a superbly long lingering finish.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: (84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot) Concentrated, complex, deep, mineral and fresh bouquet, black cassis, fragrant wood, delicate blackberry jelly, mint. Dense, elegant, multi-layered, finely concentrated palate with dense, dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, perfect elegance, exploding, diverse aromatics, very long, dense, fresh finish with lingering flavors.

(84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot) Concentrated, complex, profound, mineral and fresh bouquet, black cassis, fragrant wood, delicate blackberry jelly, mint. Dense, elegant, multi-layered, finely concentrated palate with compact, dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, perfect elegance, explosive, diverse aromatics, very long, dense, fresh finish with lingering aromas. 19/20 2028 - 2060

Intense, concentrated, powerful, deeply spiced, fleshy but restrained, this inches open and feels vibrant, pure, chiselled, seamless, with an electric charge. Expect plenty of smoked and grilled cassis, bilberry and damson fruits, sandalwood and mint leaf. Has the 2020 signature where flavours are classically serious and balanced but intense, just a monumental Mouton with the freshness and architecture of 2016, edged with floral aromatics, wonderfully enticing and with presence. 100% new oak. First vintage for Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy as director, following Philippe Dhalluin's retirement. One of the wines of the vintage.

97-98

Mouton 2020 confirms, beyond any doubt, its promise during the en primeur tastings. The wine, finely tuned, asserts its power as well as its brightness and refinement. On the palate, it unfolds waves of fresh fruit, carried by the slightly menthol freshness of its tannins.

A serious, heady nose, in a deep register, with dark hues and notes of black licorice. Simply magnificent. On the palate, a gradual explosion of pure, perfectly ripe, silky fruit. The aristocratic mouthfeel carries a captivating bitterness that lends complexity to this premier cru. That’s what sets it apart from its (excellent) little brother and reminds us why it remains king. A saline, mouthwatering afterfinish. A wine to swoon over.

Rarely has Mouton shown such subtlety, finesse, almost a shy restraint in this release. It impresses with its innate ability to reveal myriad details and to announce its grandeur and depth, purely on the nose. It maintains that sense of finesse, complemented by a serene palate. What an incredible ability to showcase its power with such tact, delicacy, and poise. Undeniably, this is a truly great Mouton, perhaps just behind the colossal 2016, yet it is only at the very beginning of a career that promises to be very long. The finish displays a fine resurgence of energy, which will certainly gain further relevance with time. One to follow very closely.

Dark, intense, and deep color. Very aromatic and complex nose. It offers inviting notes of black fruits, spices, and vanilla. A smoky touch appears when the glass is swirled. Precise on entry, very aromatic mid-palate, rich and silky; the wine develops with juiciness, then becomes powerful and sappy, leading to a slightly lively finish, even though the persistence is long and seamless.

The nose is fresh, elegant and delicate, offering power (in subtlety), richness (with finesse/delicacy), a discreet contained side, complexity and a lovely broad aromatic palette. It reveals notes of vibrant blackcurrant and vibrant redcurrant, and more lightly juicy/tangy blueberry, combined with touches of fleshy gariguette strawberry, as well as fine hints of lily, green cardamom, discreet hints of fresh blond tobacco and subtle hints of cola. The palate is fruity and offers juiciness, freshness, lovely definition, indulgence, a tangy backbone, smoothness, a slight pulpy, harmonious feel, a square of silk, a frame/structure, beautiful sapidity, minerality, along with a lovely airy character and subtlety. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of bright redcurrant and pulpy/juicy cherry and, more lightly, tangy/juicy plum, combined with touches of fresh/juicy blackberry, as well as hints of fresh flowers, racy minerality, discreet hints of spices, cola, cherry blossom, fresh gravel, cardamom and discreet hints of nutmeg. The tannins are fine, elegant, delicate and precise. A delicate chew and a very discreet touch of bourbon vanilla on the finish/persistence.

95–97. Barrel Sample. The natural opulence of this wine is restrained this year by the fine combination of structure and the freshest black currant. It has an upright character following a line of great fruits and delicious acidity. The wine will certainly age although this could be a vintage that shows well in its early years.