Bordeaux 2024: Mouton Rothschild

As with all the best wines of 2024, this portrays its terroir, revealing an unequivocal Mouton DNA coupled with a dash of '24 freshness. As Neal Martin says, it is slightly less flamboyant than usual, but still instantly recognisable with its exotic spice and layers of multifaceted fruit. There’s a class, reserve and depth here that really appealed to us and made this one of the standout wines of the vintage. Furthermore, in releasing at £1521 per six, the château has priced this at 10% less than the cheapest available vintage in the market.

“The 2024 Mouton Rothschild, which has a little more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, was picked between September 23 and October 5 and aged for 18 months in 100% new oak. This has an understated bouquet with blackberry, cedar and graphite scents that take their time to unfold. The nose possesses very fine delineation though the oak is a little more prominent at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied and quite linear in style with fine tannins. A less flamboyant Mouton Rothschild in keeping with the style of the vintage, the 2024 discretely gains depth towards the finish and reveals a dash of white pepper on the aftertaste. Classy, very classy. 2031-2059. 94-96/100” – Neal Martin, vinous.com

Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy and his team also produce the wines at Clerc Milon, d’Armailhac and Aile d’Argent. As we’ve been saying for some time now, Clerc Milon is a really serious Pauillac, made very much in the Mouton style, and the 2024 is another fine effort which comes highly recommended. D’Armailhac is a lighter, more simplistic expression, as always, though the 2024 is well judged and will offer plenty of early to mid-term drinking pleasure. Finally, Aile d’Argent, the Rothschild’s white wine, is bursting with floral notes and white fruits. This is quite a steely, bright style, a little more austere than in warmer vintages, but rather appealing with its vibrant, citrus character.