Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2021

JAMES SUCKLING: "This shows blackcurrants, blackberries, violets, lavender, pencil shavings and hints of metal shavings. Medium- to full-bodied with a firm and juicy character of extremely polished and integrated tannins that caress your palate. Compact and poised with tension and focus. A blend of 89% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot and 1% cabernet franc. 13.1% alcohol. Drink after 2029."

WEINWISSER: "Der Mouton Rothschild 2021 ist geradezu über sich hinaus gewachsen. Zudem trägt er ein sehr gelungenes Künstler-Etikett der japanischen Malerin Chiharu Shiota. Die Farbe ist schwarz im Glas. Verschlossen und dunkelfruchtig-tiefgründig erscheint er im ersten Geruchsansatz. Enorm extraktreich und fruchtbetont-intensiv verströmt er Teer, Lakritze, Tabak und ätherische Würze in seiner hochintensiven Nase. Ein sehr typischer Mouton, unablässig, undurchdringlich. Satt, intensiv und weit dann auch im Mund, nicht supervoll, aber kräftig und keineswegs leicht. Vielmehr zeigt er ein enormes Spiel und große Delikatesse in seinem ganz schwarzen Fruchtaroma. Ewig frisch und lang, dabei geschmeidig verdichtet und mit rassigen, geschliffenen Gerbstoffen ausgestattet. Von den 100 % neuen Barriques ist absolut nichts spürbar, was ebenfalls auf die sehr hohe Konzentration hindeutet. Nahtloser Verlauf mit großartiger Rasse und endloser Frische. Dieser Mouton ist mit 13.0 Vol.-% sehr genussfreudig, nicht maximal expansiv, aber eben auch keineswegs klein. Sehr beeindruckend!"

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Mouton Rothschild has a deep garnet-purple color. It is very closed to start, slowly unfurling to reveal notes of ripe black plums, blackcurrant pastilles, licorice, and cedar chest, followed by hints of dark chocolate and iron ore, with a fragrant touch of violets. The medium-bodied palate is tight-knit, with great tension and ripe, fine-grained tannins framing the electrically charged black fruit and mineral flavors, finishing long and perfumed. It tingles on the palate!"

DECANTER: "Concentrated and characterful, layered and super-finely presented. Round and full, juicy and textured, more powdery than tense and grippy with almost blackcurrant skin texture, while juicy red and black cherry juice goes through the centre, added to by dried mint, wet stones, clove and liquorice. Serious, with power but poise, all the elements on show – perhaps not quite settled, but individually showing the complexity of this great wine in the making."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. Reife schwarze Waldbeeren, ein Hauch von Tabak und Nugat, Cassis und Minze sind unterlegt, Orangentouch im Hintergrund, sehr einladendes Bukett. Kompakt, saftige Kirschfrucht, frischer Säurebogen, feine Tannine, mineralisch und finessenreich, seidige Tannine sind unterlegt, die dem Wein Länge verleihen, sehr lebendiger Abgang, bereits jetzt zugänglich und verführerisch, sollte aber noch einige Jahre heranreifen dürfen."

JEB DUNNUCK: "As to the Grand Vin 2021 Château Mouton Rothschild, this beauty is in the running for one of the wines of the vintage, and it brings more depth, richness, and texture than just about anything else in the Médoc. A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new barrels, it sports a dense purple/plum hue as well as powerful aromatics of spicy black fruits, leafy tobacco, graphite, and freshly sharpened pencils. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a building, layered mouthfeel and impressive concentration and intensity in its aromas and flavors, velvety tannins, and gorgeous finish. You'd be hard pressed to know this came from a challenging vintage. It's going to take at least 5-7 years to hit the early stages of its prime drinking window and will evolve gracefully over the following 20-25 years. Bravo. For tech geeks out there, this hit 13.1% alcohol, has an IPT of 59, and a pH of 3.73."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2021 Mouton Rothschild unwinds in the glass with rich aromas of dark berries and minty cassis mingled with espresso roast, dark chocolate, smoked meats and toasty new oak. It has taken on weight with élevage in barrel, exhibiting a full-bodied, rich and layered palate that's impressively muscular and multidimensional, with a deep core of fruit and plenty of sweet, powdery structuring tannin, concluding with a long, discreetly carnal finish."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Blackcurrant and cranberry notes indicate the dominance of Cabernet in the blend. Meaty but fresh on the palate, the tannins silky and dense. Plenty of substance here, the fruit generous, the tannins firm, providing length on the finish. Rich, within the context of the vintage, but fresh at the same time. Looks to have staying power. "