Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2006

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Don't let the lightening of color around the edge fool you into thinking this ready to drink. The nose is only now starting to show its tobacco, cigar box, forest floor, exotic spice and dark fruit characteristics. Full bodied, dense and powerful, while there is still a wealth of tannin present, the tannins are ripe. The fruit is sweet, warm and spicy. There is a beauty to the cherry liqueur and kirsch flavors in the supple textured finish. If you like your wines young, or have no patience, you can open a bottle. But if you have a cold cellar, and can manage to wait 5-10 more years, this will be a stunner. Produced from a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot, the harvest took place starting September 20 and finished October 5."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "At the time it was shown as a barrel sample in early 2007, this was the best wine of 2006. That accolade remains. It has all the power of the Cabernet Sauvignon in Pauillac, which was the greatest success of the vintage. That power comes from the dense tannins as well as the black plum and spice flavors and minerality. The texture becomes velvet, giving a final richness, but never losing its long aging potential. In a year that is good, but not at the top, Mouton has made a great wine."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted at the Mouton-Rothschild vertical in London, the 2006 Mouton-Rothschild was really the wine that put winemaker Philippe Dhalluin on the map, in the sense that unlike the 2005 born in a great vintage, this 2006 had to transcend it. It remains one of the standouts of the growing season and actually replicates previous showings just the week earlier and in January. As expected, the nose has quite brilliant delineation with blackberry, graphite, here an almost cold slate-like scent. The palate is harmonious with the carefully judged acidity, fine-grain tannin and immense detail on the finish. Recent bottles suggest that it may close up for several years, in which case, either enjoy this in the next few months or cellar this for a few years and receive vinous dividends down the line. Tasted May 2016."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is an eye-opener with a tight core of complex fruit character as well as subtle chocolate and spices. Full body, firm tannins and a classy finish. Holding back. Much better than expected. A vintage forgotten. Better in 2018."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is in an interesting spot right now, still sporting some youthful blackberry, cassis and plum fruit, with only secondary hints starting to emerge. Yet those secondary hints are very tantalizing, with well-worn cedar, tobacco and sanguine notes adding range and cut. There's a freshness throughout, yet also a supple edge, which allows the fruit to drape prettily on the finish.--Non-blind Mouton-Rothschild vertical (March 2017). Drink now through 2034. 15,830 cases made."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, jugendliche Reflexe, violetter Rand. In der Nase feines, süß unterlegtes Cassiskonfit, feine Gewürznote, mineralisch unterlegt, ein Hauch von Brombeeren. Am Gaumen sehr elegant und finessenreich, perfekt integrierte Tannine, fast rotbeerig wirkende Frucht, ausgewogen. Der Wein wirkt auf den ersten Blick fast leichtfüßig, ist aber profund und sehr finessenreich und wirkt bereits jetzt sehr trinkanimierend, feines Cassis im Rückgeschmack, sehr gute Frische und Länge, tolles Zukunftspotenzial. Exzeptionelle Präzision."