Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2001

JANCIS ROBINSON: "(tasted blind) Deep crimson – big density. Deep and interesting. Very smooth. This must be Mouton. Big chewy tannins. Neat – not big but very well mannered."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 10-Year On horizontal. This has another outstanding bouquet with notes of blackberry, wild hedgerow, graphite and a touch of orange peel. Great delineation and vigour, a little more generous than Lafite that overtakes after an hour in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, superb acidity, great depth but perhaps just missing the persistency and vigour of the Lafite. Great mineralite on the tobacco and autumn leaf-finish. Tasted March 2011."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This complex on the nose with black cherry, black currant and graphite aromas. It´s very fleshy on the palate with chewy tannins and lots of fruit. This is still a reserved and structured Bordeaux, but with power lurking beneath. Still a baby."

WEINWISSER: "Mittleres Weinrot, satte Mitte, aussen aufhellend, wenig Reifeanzeige. Das Bouquet explodiert gleich mit den Mouton-typischen Röstnoten, Karamell, Halbweissbrotkruste, Kaffee und Haselnussnoten zeigend, vielschichtig und verführerisch. Das Nasenbild ist schier überkommunikativ. Im Gaumen mit recht viel Schmelz unterwegs, die Tannine scheinen reif, der Fluss ist homogen und so scheint dieser Mouton gerade in einer hemmungslosen Genussphase zu sein. Einzig von der Dichte nicht ganz mit den anderen Médoc- Premiers mithaltend."

JEB DUNNUCK: "I was shocked by the quality of the 2001 Château Mouton Rothschild. A concentrated, rich, textured wine in the vintage from the Médoc, it reveals classic Mouton dark, chocolaty fruits as well as spicy oak, graphite, and smoked tobacco. With plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe yet still present tannins, and outstanding length, it's a more foursquare, rich, mouth-filling style from this estate that will continue evolving for another 20-25 years."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Very smoky, with berry, coffee and tobacco aromas. Full-bodied, with polished velvety tannins, plenty of fruit and a cedary aftertaste. Tight and compacted. This is better than the 2000 Mouton. It´s a baby 1986 Mouton. Solid and very, very fine. Persists for a long time on the palate. Best after 2009."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Close to fully developed, for a First Growth, it is a bit of a disappointment. Medium-bodied, earthy, and showing a good amount of secondary character with its cedar, cigar box, herb, forest floor, spice, and crisp red berries, there is a slight rusticity to the tannins and a general simplicity to the wine on the palate and in the finish. This is unlikely to improve much with age."

FALSTAFF: "Juni 2006: Kräftiges Rubingranat mit guter Farbtiefe, violette Reflexe und zarte Randaufhellung. In der Nase eher zurückhaltendes Bukett, feine Nuancen von schwarzen Kirschen, zart nach Cassis, dazu Edelholzanklänge."