Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2023

97-99. Barrel Sample. The wine has intense concentration with its powerful tannins from the 93% Cabernet Sauvignon picked during a late harvest. Classic, powerful and succulent black-currant flavors along with the wine's concentrated structure promise long-term aging.

The 2023 Mouton Rothschild has a deep, opaque hue. The bouquet is immediately satisfying with a controlled explosion of blackberry, cassis and violets that is quintessential Mouton. Very fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied yet intense, quite chiseled tannins, gentle grip, supremely well focused with a captivating, mineral-driven finish that is less flamboyant in style compared to recent vintages. Very persistent, this is a Mouton Rothschild with grandeur.

Discreet, with nobility and depth, smoky, dark chocolate, mint over clear fruit. On the palate, racy and precise, tannins carved from stone, marked acidity, a wine full of life, dynamism and elegance.

Gorgeous red and black fruit on the nose, ripe strawberries, cherries and blackcurrants, really fruit forward and expressive, not so much on the mineral or floral side. Smooth and supple, this is agile and has great movement. A sense of life, depth and richness, but this is so suave. The fruit and tannins fill the mouth but with wonderful coolness – blueberry and crisp cherry. Lots of liquorice and wet stones also come through; graphite, chalk, mint, a touch of toastiness on the finish. It has flashes of exoticism, as well as finesse. Structure and seriousness but with bounce, full of texture and nuance. Tannins have built a broad wine and this is a real success with lots of energy and vibrancy throughout but with no harsh acidity or too lean tannins. Stylish, characterful and executed very well. 11% press wine, last year was 17%. 93% Cabernet in the blend, second highest in history after 2010 which was 94%. 75 IPT. 40% grand vin production. A potential 100-point wine.

93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot. Cask sample. Pure Cabernet-cassis aroma. Juicy and gourmand on the palate but with a steely tannic frame behind. Good density and still tightly wound. Will need time. (JL)

Cuban cigars, blackberries, flowers, smoke, espresso, spice, fruitcake, licorice, roasted nuts, and currants are a treat on the nose. The palate offers layers of energetic, long, deep fruit with a racy edge. The wine builds as it lingers, the fruit shifting from red to black and back to red, with a refreshing sprig of mint, a touch of chocolate, and a dash of spice adding to the complexity. The key to the vintage was the initial heat spell in August, which helped drive the grapes to phenolic ripeness. The ability to wait for the ideal moment, allowing for longer hang time for the Cabernet, played a major role this year. The wine is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot. Only 2010 had more Cabernet in the blend. 13.3% ABV, 3.79 pH. Harvest took place September 7–30. Drink from 2030–2065. 98–100 pts.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Fine oak savouriness, black forest berries, delicate hints of blackberry and liquorice, tobacco nuances. Juicy, elegant, fine red berry notes of cranberry, silky, fine tannins, fresh acid structure, pleasant cherry fruit on the finish, salty aftertaste, lingers, a lively food companion, a hint of cassis in the aftertaste.

A lovely nose that is elegant, precise, powerful and racy, offering a certain racy intensity with elegance, concentration and finesse, vibrant. It reveals notes of bright boysenberry, vivid blackcurrant and, more lightly, bigarreau cherry, joined by hints of infusion—almost herbal notes—fresh Madagascar pepper, and discreet touches of cornflower, star anise, graphite, bright red berries and blueberry. Nicely complex and multi-layered, yet all in elegance and classicism. The palate is attractively mineral, fresh, elegant and balanced, with fine definition, precision, accuracy, refined tension, a silky, airy feel, power and precision/finesse at once. It shows notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, bright blackcurrant and, more lightly, bigarreau cherry, combined with lovely touches of racy minerality, iodized gravel, as well as hints of fairly ripe small red berries, a subtle touch of star anise, nutmeg, tonka bean in the background and toasted almond. Nicely legible, great definition, precision. A subtle hint of tonka bean on the finish and tobacco, a subtle touch of smoke.