Château Mouton Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2018

Name: Château Mouton Rothschild, 1er Cru Classé, Pauillac
Brand: Château Mouton Rothschild
Price: 2482.33 GBP

Available Vintages

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justerini & brooks tasting note

Philippe Dhalluin and his Mouton Rothschild team are on a staggering run of form. We recently re-tasted the exquisite 2016, which received 100 points all round from the four major Bordeaux critics. The 2018 is built in very much the same mould. Mouton is often the most massive and least polished of the First Growths at this precocious stage. During élevage and transformation occurs. All that power and energy harmonises with the tannins and the brooding fragrance. Quite reserved and closed as one would expect from a grand vintage of Mouton. This is another powerhouse wine bristling with exotic spices, complex earthy notes, incense and bramble fruit. There's a sparingly ethereal nature which floats above the deep mass of dark earthy fruit. Highly nuanced, aromas of griotte, Asian spice, crème de mûre, liquorice and cocoa nibs fleck the impressive palate. As we have alluded to earlier, this doesn't possess the refinement at this stage as the other First, however, whatever it lacks in precision is more than made up for in power and concentration. This is rippling with muscle and possesses tremendous length. A bit of a block at the moment, but we fully expect this to emerge from élevage as a refined beauty. A Mouton with huge potential crafted from 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot.

critic reviews

98/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

The 2018 Mouton Rothschild is deep garnet-purple in color. It sashays out of the glass with vibrant scents of kirsch, juicy blackcurrants, and black raspberries, plus suggestions of lavender, cedar, and camphor, with a waft of roses. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone supporting the muscular fruit, finishing with a minty lift.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2062

date of review 02/2023

100/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

I'm not alone in considering this one of the all-time great Moutons - it was awarded World's Greatest Wine is a competition last year that saw numerous rounds of blind tasting. It's worth your while to find out why - this is a powerhouse of beautiful fruits - layer upon concentrated layer of blackberry, cassis, liquorice, baked earth, cigar box, black truffle and the signature smoked and grilled spices of Mouton. The tannins are velvety but determined, holding on to their fruit with no intention of letting go for another few decades. 100% new oak. There is the tiniest touch of Petit Verdot in the blend but under 1% so it’s not in the official figures. 62% of production went into the grand vin. 3.78pH. 88IPT. The artist for this vintage is Xu Bing.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2048

date of review 10/2021

99/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2018 Mouton Rothschild is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Francthere is also a splash of all the Petit Verdot they had, but it doesnt even register in the percentage. It has 13.8% alcohol, which is relatively modest for the vintage. Deep garnet-purple colored, it straight away pops with bright, vivacious notes of crushed blackcurrants, juicy blackberries and redcurrant jelly with slowly emerging nuances of candied violets, stewed plums, licorice and black tea, plus a waft of dusty red soil. The medium-bodied palate is built like a brick house with super firm, super ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long and savory with lingering mineral suggestions. This is so, so delicious and, due to the ripeness of tannins, approachable now. It will be difficult to keep your mitts off it for a good 5-7 years, when all those tightly tucked away nuances should begin to emerge. After that, it should improve over the course of 25 years or more and drink for 40+.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2067

date of review 03/2021

97/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2018 Mouton-Rothschild needed 2–3 hours before I began composing a single word. Eventually it unfolds with the same aromatics that I observed out of barrel: extraordinarily pure blackberry, blueberry, pressed violet petals and potpourri. It still has the alluring Margaux-like florality. The palate is medium-bodied with filigreed tannins, disarmingly satin-like texture and wonderful cohesion. This is a sophisticated Mouton-Rothschild that is maybe less ostentatious than other recent vintages, but well aware of its class and breeding; it knows that there is no need to show off. The precision on the finish is riveting. Assessing it over many hours to plot its evolution, I wager that this First Growth may well drink earlier than I anticipated, so give it 5–6 years in bottle. <em>Chapeau</em> to retired winemaker Philippe Dhalluin and his team.

DRINKING WINDOW 2026 - 2060

date of review 03/2021