Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2003
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The finesse and precision of a Pauillac Premier Cru Classé
The estate
It was in 1853 that Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired Château Brane-Mouton at auction. Located in the heart of the Médoc, in the appellation of Pauillac, the estate was renamed Château Mouton Rothschild. In 1924, Baron Philippe de Rothschild took over the reins of the property. A visionary, he decided to initiate bottling directly at the estate and also designed a label for the wine. In 1973 Château Mouton Rothschild became a First Classified Growth. An icon of the Pauillac appellation, Château Mouton Rothschild has produced magnificent Bordeaux wines, known by wine lovers around the world.
The vineyard
Château Mouton Rothschild is a Pauillac wine that stems from a 90-hectare vineyard, located to the north-west of Bordeaux in the Médoc region. The vines are planted in stony, gravelly soils that capture the heat and restore it during the night, thus helping the grapes ripen. These poor, well-drained soils are lain over clay-gravelly subsoils, lending the wines of Château Mouton Rothschild a certain power, elegance and a tannic structure.
The vintage
A cold, dry winter preceded an exceptionally mild month of March, which favoured early budburst in the vineyard. The dry conditions lasted from April to June. Although the rainfall recorded in July was ideal for the development of the vines, August was marked by a strong heatwave which, thanks to the deep roots and sufficient water supply, had a limited impact on the vineyard. In September, the hot and dry weather ensured a slow and gradual ripening of the grapes.
The blend
Cabernet Sauvignon (76%)
Merlot (14%)
Cabernet Franc (8%)
Petit Verdot (2%)
Château Mouton Rothschild 2003: Characteristics and tasting tips
The tasting
Colour
This wine showcases an intense colour with garnet hues.
Nose
A typical feature of the Cabernet varietal, the nose gives off fine aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, caramel and ripe fruit.
Palate
On the palate, the attack is frank. The palate is rich with full and muted tannins. The fruity expression blends with notes of spices, cigar and eucalyptus. The finish of this Pauillac wine is very expressive, long, powerful, harmonious and silky.
The 2003 harvest began on September 15 and finished ten days later. The result is an outstanding 2003 Mouton-Rothschild, but it is not one of the superstars of Pauillac or the Northern Médoc. Its nearby neighbors, Lafite-Rothschild, Cos d'Estournel and Montrose, all produced wines that qualitatively dominate this effort from Mouton-Rothschild. Nevertheless, there is a lot to like. The tannins, which were so tough initially, have softened somewhat, and the nose offers up notes of cedarwood, roasted coffee, tobacco leaf and red and blackcurrants. This spicy, earthy, fleshy, medium to full-bodied 2003 is not one of the stars of the vintage. It is close to full maturity, where it should remain for another 10-15 years.