Château Mouton Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2009
The Mouton range has impressed us again. This estate keeps on improving and excluding the 2006, the 2009 is the best young Mouton we have tasted. A kaleidoscopic bouquet of minerals, earth, brooding dark fruits, truffle, salts, graphite and blueberries. Layer after layer of decadent sweet fruit delights the palate. This possesses enormous power, however, it is not a monolith, it has a demure quality to match the brash power. This is multidimensional and very engaging with an explosion of fruit, spice and liquorice and a latent power that underpins it. Although a massively concentrated wine, there is a fineness and silky texture, which is very alluring. A marriage of power and charm. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot.
critic reviews
Juicy, rich, opulent, powerfully seductive, and a wonderful expression of yin and yang with its neighbour Lafite. The toasted oak notes are in full evidence, and the tannins remain muscular, bulky and young - this feels almost entirely in its primary phase, and it needs a good few hours, or longer, in a carafe if you are thinking of drinking any time soon. As it opens, black cherry, mandarin peel and bitter chocolate notes arrive, as does the more restrained charcoal and fresh mint character of Pauillac, set against sweeter crème de cassis notes. This is just glancing towards its drinking window, but will reward longer ageing, and has decades ahead of it. What a brilliant vintage, this is signature Mouton, charming but with serious intent. 100% new oak, Philippe Dhalluin director.
Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Mouton Rothschild gives up bold earthy notions of underbrush, tilled soil and fungi over a core of creme de cassis, plum preserves and Indian spices with a waft of camphor. Full-bodied with a firm, velvety tannin texture and packed with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, it has seamless freshness and a very long, decadently fruited finish.
The 2009 Mouton-Rothschild has a very backward bouquet that is clearly nowhere near its drinking plateau, unfolding reluctantly with cedar and pencil box infused black fruit. Glimpses of pressed rose petal unfurl with continued aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a mixture of red and black fruit, and veins of blue. Very harmonious with a satin-like texture towards the persistent finish. Philippe Dhalluin conjured a gorgeous Mouton-Rothschild this year, but it needs another few years in the cellar. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' Ten Year On tasting.