Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, 1er Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, 2016 Tasting notes

I tasted the Mouton in the chateau’s tasting room with Philippe Dhalluin, the man responsible for all wines from the Mouton stable. Dhalluin has 35 years of experience in making wine of which he spend 30 in the Médoc. Philippe told me that most measurable elements of the 2016 are superior to the 2010 vintage. There are even more tannins but you won’t taste this because they are so well integrated. Dhalluin compares the 2016 with the Mouton 1986 (100 points by Robert Parker) but he told me that the tannins back then were very hard. “It would take many years to soften up. The 2016 is like a modern 1986,” he smiles. “Don’t forget that most elements we measure and master nowadays, were unknown to us in the 1980’s. This 2016 will be a monster!”

Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild (18,5 points)
[62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc]

Deep clear ruby color with some hints of purple. Rather discreet on the nose at first but the wine opens up with an expression of ripe fruit, coffee and a pleasing complexity. On the palate there are many different aromas. This delicious wine has incredible complexity and length for a second wine. For me this is one of the best Petit Mouton’s so far. A wine that merits following.

Mouton Rothschild (20 points)
[83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot]

Super concentrated color without being inky black. On the nose this wine is simply superb. I had written down: WOW! Loads of fruit like blackcurrant, coffee, cedar wood and tobacco. I simply wanted to sit there an just smell this wine for hours. On the palate one can’t fail to be impressed by the perfect balance between the incredible fruit and the precise and silky tannins. This powerful Mouton combines a remarkable freshness and a superb length. This wine seems to go on and on and on. This is an incredibly well balanced wine with a roundness I have rarely found in a Pauillac barrel sample. I found the precision in the fruit even better than in 2015. Power and elegance in perfect balance. With a very reasonable alcohol percentage of 13,2% we are back to a more classic Bordeaux. Possibly my wine of the vintage. Twenty points without a doubt. Bravo to Philippe Dhalluin and his team!

Aile d’Argent (19+ points) The white wine of Chateau Mouton Rothschild
[53% Sauvignon Blanc, 46% Semillon and 1% Muscadelle]

Pristine clear wine with some golden hints. A bit more color than usual. An incredibly expressive nose. This wine seems to want to jump out of the glass: Peach, tropical fruit, mango, citrus and even some hints of sweetness on the nose. In the mouth there is an avalanche of so many fruits. Great mid-palate. Buttery and a fattiness that makes you want to drink this wine now. An incredible length, especially considering we are in the heart of red-wine country here. One of the best Aile d’Argents I have ever tasted on futures!