Château Mouton Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2005
A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, showing on the nose some of the exoticism more prevalent in the Petit Mouton. Quite restrained aromatically, with delicate vanilla and hints of tobacco leaf, but a very different story on the palate: immediately obvious is the wine’s scale and body, full, broad, and deep, with a firm structure and every cubic millimetre packed with flavour: toasty oak, buckets of blackcurrant, mocha complexity. The tannins are very fine and well integrated and the finish is long, fine and balanced. A very impressive Mouton indeed.
critic reviews
The 2005 Mouton Rothschild clearly has a fresher bouquet than the Clerc Milon or Armailhac: copious black fruit, cedar, graphite and violet scents soar from the glass, entrancing with beautiful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, quite poised and less ferrous than some of its peers. Mint and veins of dark chocolate are flanked by cracked black pepper towards the bold yet controlled finish. This is drinking supremely well now—a classy Mouton Rothschild that represents the apex of achievement in that decade. Tasted at the château.
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, so much depth and power, barely out of its primary phase, but we are starting now to get the whole picture of what it will become. There is a lush edge to the tannins now that was not the case even two years ago. Such a different expression from the 2009 and 2010 Mouton, with this a little more old school in its charms, and for me you can now project yourself foraward, 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 anytime soon, think of it as a bottle to enjoy very slowly over four or five hours seeing the nuances develop. 100% new oak.
The 2005 Mouton Rothschild is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-brick in color, it soars from the glass with an opulent, flamboyant nose of blackcurrant cordial, black cherry preserves, and violets with licorice, espresso, and clove oil in the background. Medium to full-bodied, this is a more structured face of Mouton, delivering a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and decadent. Still so youthful, this is just the opening act for this show-stopper, but what an entrance! Drink it now to 2060+. Philippine de Rothchild was still in charge of the estate at this time and Philippe Dhalluin, who started in 2004, was the winemaker.
Technical Director/Chief Winemaker Philippe Dhalluin said this was a special year for him, because he considers it his first great vintagehe started in 2004. Deep garnet with hint of brick, the 2005 Mouton Rothschild is evolving into unabashed, flamboyant notes of Christmas cake, plum preserves, chocolate-covered cherries, eucalyptus and creme de cassis with beautifully fragrant wafts of potpourri, incense, Indian spices and cigar box. Full-bodied, the palate performs vinous pirouettes with dazzling exotic spice, floral and earthy nuances, framed by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced.