2021 Mouton Rothschild
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Tasting notes
Ch. Mouton Rothschild was certainly a highlight on the Left Bank in 2021 – a wine that has found a decent core of power and tension that oscillates through the palate. The tannins are dense and beautifully layered, while the distinct cassis fruit has great clarity, integrated beautifully with the high-quality, peppery, spicy oak tones which add further complexity. Despite the structural qualities, the tannins are supple and fine. This is more restrained than in recent years (coming in at 13.1% alcohol), as is expected given the vintage, but the wine is no less precise and there is a wonderful elegance here – as well as an impressively long finish. Excellent. Blend: 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Critic scores
Average Score
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Lustrous dark crimson. Intense and slightly sweaty on the nose. Very full and, in a 2021 context, positively opulent palate. Concentrated and ambitious. (JR)
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.
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.
About the producer
Pauillac-based Ch. Mouton Rothschild is one of the five First Growths, producing some of the finest wine in Bordeaux and the world. Known for its flamboyant style, the label for the Grand Vin is designed by a different artist each year.