Still remarkably dark, intense and youthful in appearance, this Mouton shows more flamboyant characters on the nose than other vintages, with spices, cigar-box and blackcurrant leaf all to the fore. Rich, dense and fleshy palate with plenty of stuffing for further ageing. An impressive Mouton which lives up to the ‘star’ billing for the 1995 vintage with nearly all of the components in great balance. The only question mark regards the firm, slightly drying tannins, which still need to fully integrate. I suspect they will, but the 1995 may not quite reach the height of the 1996. Harvested 12 September to 27 September. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. Drinking Window: 2021 - 2030
Tasted by: Andy Howard MW (at Red Herring Wine Club, London, 24 Sep 2021)
Part of Château Mouton Rothschild vertical: 1993 - 1999

Bottled in June, 1997, this profound Mouton is more accessible than the more muscular 1996. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 19% Merlot, it reveals an opaque purple color, and reluctant aromas of cassis, truffles, coffee, licorice, and spice. In the mouth, the wine is "great stuff," with superb density, a full-bodied personality, rich mid-palate, and a layered, profound finish that lasts for 40+ seconds. There is outstanding purity and high tannin, but my instincts suggest this wine is lower in acidity and slightly fleshier than the brawnier, bigger 1996. Both are great efforts from Mouton-Rothschild. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2030.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #115, Feb 1998)

This explodes on the nose with prunes, blackberries, mushrooms and fresh tobacco. Full body, ripe tannins and a juicy finish. Big and powerful. Still could do with a decade or more of aging.

(72% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot and 9% cabernet franc; pH 3.68; IPT 64; 12.4% alcohol; 88% new oak; 95% selection for the grand vin): Very dark, fully saturated ruby to the rim. Deep, brooding, rich aromas of blackberry, violet, milk chocolate, black pepper, cedar and incense; sexy and captivating. Bright and focused on entry, then rich, very smooth and suave, with highly concentrated flavors of red berries, dark plum, cedar and graphite. The extremely long, juicy finish features lively acids, great balance and persistent notes of underbrush and minerals. The mounting tannins coat the palate dry and are still years away from resolving fully. Harvested from September 12 through 27, which suggests that the merlot was probably very ripe. According to Tourbier, "We included a bit more merlot than usual because we felt the cabernet sauvignon had particularly tough tannins in 1995 and we didn't want to risk making too tough or structured a wine. So we used the merlot to soften it up a bit." The estate was so happy with the quality of the wine (and the rather high 95% selection for the grand vin speaks volumes), said Tourbier, that they only made 15 barriques of the second wine Petit Mouton, which was launched with the 1993 vintage. A huge volume year, 1995 was characterized by very fine weather through most of the growth cycle but was marred by September rains. Ian D'Agata

Aromas of ripe fruit and grilled meat follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a long caressing finish. Very beautiful wine. Mouton shows finesse yet richness in this vintage.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. JS

Classic, firm, old-school, tannic-edged, full-bodied, almost stoic wine, the fruit is bright, crisp and edgy, with savory, herbal nuances, peppery spices, cedar and tobacco to boot. It is not a lot of fun to drink today. If you have the wine and patience, you should give it a decade in the cellar before opening a bottle. Tasted April 2022

Ruby-red, not quite as deep as the '96. Exotic, sweet aromas of currant, lead pencil, spice and woodsmoke. A huge wine that conveys a sense of sheer power, but not quite as delineated or stylish as the '96. This really explodes on the aftertaste, but the '96 is more subtle. Clearly first-growth size, but less fine than the '96.

This bottle of Mouton ’95 was surprisingly disjointed on the nose and seemed to be cowering next to the ’96. The herbaceous element was more pronounced than anticipated, some lovely hot gravel and stony scents but missing the breeding of the following vintage. The palate is better with blackcurrant, cedar, graphite and slightly coarse tannins. This is like a car that cannot get out of second gear and yet, it seems like a very nice automobile. I would like to taste this again but on this showing, go ’96. Tasted February 2011.

– eRobertParker.com, May 2011

Served from magnum. Deep garnet, ruby rim. Fine mineral nose and more reticent than the Margaux 1995 tasted alongside. Firm but paper-fine tannins that slide across the palate. The tannins are just perfect. Melt in the mouth but still giving shape. Starts to open up in the glass but retains that elegance and restraint which is so beguiling. Very long finish.
Julia Harding MW