Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2023

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. 100% new oak for ageing, harvest September 7 to 30.

Pure Cabernet-cassis aroma. Juicy and gourmand on the palate but with a steely tannic frame behind. Good density and still tightly wound. Will need time.

Barrel Sample. The wine has intense concentration with its powerful tannins from the 93% Cabernet Sauvignon picked during a late harvest. Classic, powerful and succulent black-currant flavors along with the wine's concentrated structure promise long-term aging.

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. 93% cabernet sauvignon and 7% merlot. Best after 2030.

Gorgeous red and black fruit on the nose, ripe strawberries, cherries and blackcurrants, really fruit forward and expressive, not so much on the mineral or floral side. Smooth and supple, this is agile and has great movement. A sense of life, depth and richness, but this is so suave. The fruit and tannins fill the mouth but with wonderful coolness - blueberry and crisp cherry. Lots of liquorice and wet stones also come through; graphite, chalk, mint, a touch of toastiness on the finish. It has flashes of exoticism, as well as finesse. Structure and seriousness but with bounce, full of texture and nuance. Tannins have built a broad wine and this is a real success with lots of energy and vibrancy throughout but with no harsh acidity or too lean tannins. Stylish, characterful and executed very well. 11% press wine, last year was 17%. 93% Cabernet in the blend, second highest in history after 2010 which was 94%. 75 IPT. 40% grand vin production. A potential 100-point wine.

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. 

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Mouton Rothschild needs considerable swirling to coax out notes of freshly crushed blackcurrants and wild blueberries leading to touches of clove oil, lavender, star anise, and black truffle with a hint of wild sage. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound, with a firm frame of grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing on a lingering ferrous note. The blend is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, with pH 3.79, and an alcohol of 13.3%.

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.

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.