EP23 Release: Mouton Rothschild “This is a masterclass in Cabernet - a head-spinning Mouton where the wine simply soars” Robert Mathias MW
Bordeaux Index
6 May 2024
Mouton Rothschild 2023
This vintage of Mouton has one of the highest proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend ever seen at the estate comprising a full 93% with the remainder of the blend made up of wonderfully intense Merlot. Tasting this last week, the purity and finesse of the Cabernet in this wine was quite simply breath taking. We have little doubt that this will number in the very top iterations of Mouton and it is certainly one of the Left Bank wines of the vintage.
“When Cabernet works at Mouton, it is hard to beat, and it's on full display in 2023. One of my clear wines of the vintage. Of any vintage.” Jane Anson
The strength of the Mouton brand has sky-rocketed in recent years; indeed, there have been few more consistent, high-ranking estates in Bordeaux over the past decade. After a somewhat lacklustre 1990s, and a couple of high points in the 2000s, it was the 2009 and 2010 that were the gamechangers and really kicked off their renaissance. And they have never looked back. Mouton have repeatedly reached excellence in ordinary vintages and have achieved beyond brilliance in outstanding vintages. The excitement around their recent releases has in turn generated more and more interest in their back vintages. This is a wine any and every Bordeaux lover will feel the compulsion to have in their cellar.
“This is a masterclass in Cabernet - a head-spinning Mouton where the wine simply soars” Robert Mathias MW
What is most exciting about the 2023 Mouton is the striking transparency of terroir. It is a wine that screams of Cabernet on gravel – Pauillac simply does not get much better than this.
Add Mouton Rothschild 2023 to my cellar
98-100pts Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux “High Cabernet, and the grape is dominant not just in blend but character, totally delicious, with tension, flesh, and confidence, building layers of black fruits, graphite, cocoa bean, espresso, pomegranate and smoked earth throughout the palate. When Cabernet works at Mouton, it is hard to beat, and it's on full display in 2023. One of my clear wines of the vintage. Of any vintage. 100% new oak for ageing. 40% grand vin, harvest September 7 to 30.”
97-99pts Robert Mathias MW, Bordeaux Index “This is a masterclass in Cabernet - a head-spinning Mouton where the wine simply soars. Leading with cedar, graphite, pencil shavings, and gravel the Cabernet here is powerful but not opulent. It is super classical in feel, tannins are finely woven but dig into the palate with real tension leading all the way to finish. Really launches from the palate, sinewy tobacco, pepper, and inky cassis fruit building with intensity with every breath. Liquorice root gives a lovely, subtle bitterness - floral notes of crushed iris too. Real persistence here, so much energy that bounces all the way to the finish.”
96-99pts Antonio Galloni, Vinous “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.”
96-98pts Neal Martin, Vinous “The 2023 Mouton Rothschild was picked from September 7 to 30 and contains 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, the second highest ever (after the 2010). Matured entirely in new oak as usual, this has an intense, floral bouquet with violet petals infusing the black fruit and touches of licorice loitering just off stage—very fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with extremely refined tannins. Focused and harmonious, it’s velvety smooth with a long and tender finish that has more crispness than the 2022. In fact, I might ultimately end up preferring this over the 2022…it will be interesting finding out in the future!”
98-99pts James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com “This is the most structured Mouton since the great 2016, with tannins that start slowly and then take off. It’s muscular and toned. It’s full-bodied but doesn’t come across too heavy. It builds up in intensity and goes on and on and on. It just keeps expanding. I took a double take here. 93% cabernet sauvignon and 7% merlot.