Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2009

WEINWISSER: "Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violett-schwarzen Reflexen. Kein wuchtiges Bouquet, sondern eine elegante, extrem schwarzbeerige, sehr vielschichtige Nase zeigend, darin Edelhölzer, schwarze Schokolade, feine Rauchnoten, Vanillemark und sehr viel Lakritze, trotz des noch zurückhaltenden Schwarzbeerencocktails tendenziell mehr Terroir- als Fruchtnoten aufweisend. Im Gaumen Eleganz pur, mit feinsten Tanninen bestückt, die sich zu einer cremigen Adstringenz zusammenfügen, gegen der Mitte des Gaumens bündeln sich alle Aromen und formen sich zu einem gewaltigen Finale, das nach frischen gehackten und getrockneten Heidelbeeren schmeckt und eine gehörige Portion dunkles Malz und Mokka in sich birgt."

FALSTAFF: "Einladende Nuancen von reifen Herzkirschen und frischen Feigen, ein Hauch von Nougatkaramell, feine Edelholzwürze mit etwas Bourbonvanille. Saftig, komplex, reife, dunkle Beerenfrucht, feine Extraktsüße, geschliffene, reife Tannine, mineralisch im Abgang."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Even at this early stage, it is impossible not to be awed by what's in your glass! Concentrated, opulent, flamboyant and compelling, the wine explodes from the initial scent. Full-bodied, deep, sensuous and rich, the unique concoction of Asian spices, tobacco leaf, dark red fruits, smoke, wet earth, cedar and crushed rocks grabs you. The intense, long, textural finish builds and lingers. The wine needs another 12-15 more years to really hit its stride. But it is going to be worth the wait!"

JAMES SUCKLING: "With a ton of ripe blackcurrant and some bitter chocolate this is a rich and rather opulent wine that still retains a delightful freshness and has a long, positively dry finish. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)"

DECANTER: "The texture is the most striking thing on this wine, right from the attack. It rolls out a carpet of silk and welcomes you in, and displays the gourmet edge that Mouton does so expertly, with blackberry, black cherry, crushed blueberries and garrigue. It has a softness that makes it not necessarily signature Pauillac, but certainly signature Mouton, with the ripeness of the fruit tempered by firm, brushed tannins and a core of controlled acidity. Crushed mint leaves appear on the finish. Multi-layered and brilliant."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This will always be a great contrast to the dark power of the 2010, sporting lush layers of fig, boysenberry and blackberry confiture, carried by velvety tannins, flowing through a long, anise-, tobacco- and cocoa-fueled finish. Not shy on grip, but much rounder and plusher in feel. Hard to resist now, but there´s absolutely no rush.--Non-blind Mouton-Rothschild vertical (March 2017). Best from 2020 through 2050. 16,000 cases made."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Mouton Rothschild gives up bold earthy notions of underbrush, tilled soil and fungi over a core of crème 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."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The purest Cabernet Sauvignon fruit, with dark chocolate and intense dark berry flavors. The tannins are so enveloped by the fruit and yet they promise great aging. At this stage, wood shows through the fruit, but the texture is so rich and opulent that it should easily become integrated."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Superb openness and opulence on the nose, with black cherry, violet, liquorice, bitter chocolate and fine-grained tannins. Long finish still driven by fruit, and there is surely much more development in store. (RH)"