Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2012

JAMES SUCKLING: „What a nose of blackberries, blackcurrants, minerals and graphite. Full-bodied and extremely fine and polished. Sexy and ethereal. Harmony. A little salty. Fabulous 2012. Pure silk. Better after 2020 but so wonderful now.“

WINE ENTHUSIAST: „This is a beautifully opulent wine, great Mouton in its richness and succulent fruits. It's combines structure and obvious new-wood aging with hugely ripe black plum and currant flavors. While it is a pleasure to taste now, there is a great tannic structure in the background to give the sense of power and aging potential."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: „Tasted at the Mouton-Rothschild vertical in London, the 2012 Mouton-Rothschild clearly has the upper hand over the 2011, if not quite at the level of the 2009, 2010 and what I envisage will be the 2015. There is obviously greater fruit intensity here, as if the contrast has been dialed up a couple of notches. It is quite showy on the nose, preening in its infancy with pure black cherries, graphite and hints of cold slate-like scents, later that hint of seaweed I observed when tasted blind a few months earlier. The palate is beautifully balanced with great vim and vigor. This is a Mouton that will not be put down - vivacious, vivid and delineated with wonderful focus and crucially, impressive persistence on the finish. Do not underestimate this Mouton-Rothschild, because I can see an upswing as it matures in bottle."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER:„Deep ruby in color, with secondary aromas already peeking out of the perfume with its truffle, tobacco, leaf, cedar wood, vanilla, cassis, blackberry and peppery nose. Full bodied, lush and velvety, with a long, palate caressing finish, this is another winner in a long line of wines for Philippe Dhalluin. Made from a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the grapes were picked on the late side from October 1 to October 15."

WEINWISSER: „90 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 % Merlot, 2 % Cabernet Franc. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Viel blaue Beeren, darin Damassine-Pflaumen, mineralischer Schimmer, Edelhölzer, helle Schokolade, vielschichtig, eine Nuance von knapp reifem Cabernet Sauvignon vermittelnd. Im Gaumen eine fordernde Zungenadstringenz, passende, aber auch verlangende Muskeln, noch aufrauend im Extrakt, im Finale dann endlich das berühmte Mouton-Cassis, aber auch nicht so intensiv wie sonst. Ein eher leicht anmutender Mouton, der mich ganz stark an die Jugend des 1985ers, natürlich in einer präziseren Vinifikationsform erinnert. Und das war nicht der einzige Wein, bei dem mir spontan der Jahrgang 1985 in den Sinn kam …"

WINE SPECTATOR: „This is starting to mellow already, featuring dark fig and blackberry notes infused liberally with black tea and smoldering tobacco accents. Shows a light loamy echo through the finish, with a flash of menthol. Offers ample flesh throughout, with a slightly grainy edge to the tannins.—Non-blind Mouton-Rothschild vertical (March 2017). Best from 2020 through 2040."

FALSTAFF: „Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Zart nussig unterlegtes schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, ein Hauch von Lakritze und Cassis, tabakige Nuancen. Saftig, reife schwarze Beerenfrucht, feste, gut verankerte Tannine, finessenreicher Säurebogen, salzige Nuancen, zitroniger Anklang im Abgang, rote Kirschen im Rückgeschmack."

JANCIS ROBINSON: „Tasted blind. High-toned Cabernet nose. Good drive and concentration but slight sweetness too. Already quite evolved but lots of tannin underneath. Very long."

DECANTER: „Lovely black fruits nose, rich texture caresses the palate, long finish."