Château Mouton Rothschild 2005

The 2005 Mouton Rothschild (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc) has a sensational nose of crème de cassis and incense, as well as a touch of lead pencil shavings and forest floor. Dense purple, this is one of the biggest, richest wines I tasted from the Médoc. It is full-bodied, pure, and impressively endowed. Certainly the selection process and the vineyard have come through in admirable form. This wine has a certain accessibility due to the sweetness of the tannin, but it is multidimensional, with a majestic mouthfeel and length. Drink it over the next 30+ years.

Gorgeous, with singed alder and juniper notes starting to strut their stuff, while the immense core of steeped red currant, blackberry and plum fruit continues to wait in reserve. A light sanguine thread weaves in on the back end, which is driven by a serious bolt of iron. Shows terrific grip, length and cut. A brick-house Pauillac built for the long haul. -- Non-blind Mouton-Rothschild vertical (March 2017). Best from 2020 through 2050.

Mouton was voluptuous and immediately appealing, with spicy ripe cassis and plum fruit that poured from the glass, surrounded by liquorice, coconut, and toasted cedar. The texture was not abrasive but very full-bodied and round. The tannins initially appeared fine-grained and silky, but with a bit of time, one realised the immense structure of this wine. Impressively concentrated and very long on the finish, this is still youthful and should age for decades to come. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 14% Merlot, with a touch of Cabernet Franc. The picking for the grand vin started on 21 September for the Merlot and finished with the Cabernets on 3 October.

This accelerates on the palate with incredibly ripe tannins and finesse. Full-bodied, with roasted fruit, leather and grilled meat. Dried flowers, too. It shows superb tannin backbone and polish. Tight and youthful. Just starting to open. Currant and berry undertones with lead pencil are impressive. Better in 2018 but so delicious now.

One of the real highlights on the Left Bank, the 2005 Mouton Rothschild is a dark, potent Pauillac. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, spice and leather all take shape in the glass. The 2005 is a dense, powerful and explosive wine endowed with tremendous energy and pure power. The fruit is just starting to emerge, but Mouton remains a very tight, super-classic wine. With time in the glass, some of the natural richness and radiance of the year starts to emerge. Even so, the 2005 is still very young and closed. A few more years in bottle will only be beneficial. Impressive. Tasted two times.

This is so young. Yet, if you look inside with just a bit of effort, the wine is fabulous with unlimited potential. Concentrated, full, rich and with serious depth of flavor, the wine balances its naturally opulent nature with the structure to age, a wall of ripe tannin and endless waves of juicy, ripe, fresh, pure cassis. Patience is warranted. So give it 15 years and enjoy it over the next 50!

Extremely dark violet with black highlights. Intense bouquet: mocha notes, ripe plums, cassis, dark fine woods, freshly fermented tea leaves, dark chocolate, all showing a perfumed, delicately herbal, minty freshness. On the palate, rich, round and full; despite the impressive extract, it displays a fine yet ample, dense tannic frame; plenty of black berries, blackberries, cassis, blueberries, licorice and rosewood notes in the long, elevated finish. A Mouton that already comes across as harmonious, powerfully expressing the estate’s quality management, and ranking among the truly great Mouton vintages. But what is missing, despite all the compliments up to a top score? Not much. Only with bottle age will it become clear whether it has what it takes to be a wine of the century. Even if it stays at 19 points, the 2005 is still an unforgettable experience.

Extremely dark violet with black highlights. Intense bouquet, mocha notes, ripe plums, cassis, dark fine woods, freshly fermented tea leaves, dark chocolate, all showing a perfumed, delicate herbal, minty freshness. On the palate, ample, round and filling; despite the imposing extract, it shows a fine yet firmly sealing tannic sheath, plenty of black berries, blackberries, cassis, blueberries, licorice and rosewood notes in the long, majestic finish. A Mouton already showing harmony, a benchmark in quality management, and certainly belonging to the truly great vintages of its estate. What does this wine lack for a perfect score given the hymns of praise? Actually, not much. It just needs to prove with bottle age that it is truly capable. Even if it remains at 19 points, it is still a tremendous, unforgettable experience. No superlatives are needed to be happy with every sip. But it also takes an unreasonable calculation to simply buy this wine without relating its price to the equally brilliant 2002 and 2003. Hervé Berland: “Very strict selection, for all vines younger than 25 years. That’s why we’re convinced the second wine, Le Petit Mouton, turned out much better than usual, and we’ll also offer it as a primeur for the first time. In terms of vegetation, we experienced the driest year in 30 years. Lots of sun, but fortunately not extremely hot, which ultimately gives the wine its freshness. Production about 215,000 bottles. The smallest quantity in 30 years for Mouton! Almost the same blend as 2000, namely 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc. The main selection came from the Plateau de Mouton and the Plateau Carruades.” 20: Dark garnet with purple highlights. Brilliant bouquet, plum compote, ripe cassis, wild strawberries, dark malt, plenty of fine woods. Facets upon facets. Already intoxicating on the attack. A wonderful procession of fruit from red-blue to black-berried. It strongly reminds me of the 1995 in its early phases, yet in even better perfection. The palate is extremely dense, concentrated, “super-extractive.” The finish really powers up. A great Mouton that in a few decades has the chance to emulate the 1959 in form and taste. (19/20)

Concentrated, complex, deep, dark bouquet: cassis, currants, mint, subtle eucalyptus, blackberry jelly. Concentrated, multi-layered palate with fine power, dense, dark aromatics, complex, concentrated structure, plenty of fine tannins, very long, dark finish. 20/20 2025 - 2060

This is pure pleasure, with tiny pulses of electricity, brushed leather, sulphur, loam, truffle, blackberry, black cherry, with touches of silky tannins, smoked caramel and black chocolate. A wine that makes you smile, with so much depth and power, barely out of its primary phase, but we are already beginning to see the full picture of what it will become. There is now a lush edge to the tannins that wasn’t the case even two years ago. Such a different expression from the 2009 and 2010 Mouton, with this one a little more old-school in its charms, and for me you can now project it forward, more like the 1986, a little dry and strict at first, but finessed and gorgeous, delivering grip, punch and magic. Eric Tourbier and Philippe Dhalluin on the technical team. 63% first wine, extremely low for the time (lowest since 1975, whereas today they are regularly below 50%). If you are going to open this any time soon, think of it as a bottle to enjoy very slowly over four or five hours as the nuances develop. 100% new oak.

The first in a string of outstanding successes, this 2005 has retained its flamboyant, generous character, with an explosive palate. Rich and flavoursome, with superb tannins and a long finish.

Dark, intense color with slight evolution. An intense nose of ripe, creamy fruit with a hint of cedar. A dense palate with both tight and velvety texture, developing with meticulous finesse, very flavorful, leading to a complex, long finish. A noble ensemble.

I think the 2005 Château Mouton Rothschild is pure perfection, with a ripe, powerful yet weightless style not far off the 1982. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc aged in new barrels, it’s just now starting to enter its adolescence and shows sensational notes of ripe black fruits, smoke, scorched earth, pipe tobacco, and chocolate. Massively rich and opulent on the palate, with building yet sweet tannins and no hard edges, it’s one of those wines that needs to be tasted to be believed. Drink bottles any time over the coming 40+ years.

What an intense nose, marked by classic notes of graphite, cedar and blackcurrant. On the palate, the wine is broad, fresh and powerful. Its tannins are perfectly integrated and very fine. A Mouton that perfectly combines power, maturity and elegance.

If 2005 was a rich year, Mouton reaches the heights of richness. Almost too rich, too New World, but you have to be impressed by the aromatic intensity of the black fruits, the dense, firm tannins, and the superripe black juice and licorice flavors. The wood is still too overpowering and needs time to settle in.