Château Mouton Rothschild 2009 - 1er Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Ultra-elegant, with great aromatic richness and a dreamy texture, without the slightest simplification of the Cabernet Sauvignon essence.

About the domain :

Philippine de Rothschild left her children an estate in top form, in the hands of an irreproachable technical team. Originally called Brane-Mouton, the estate became Mouton-Rothschild in 1853, when Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired it. His great-grandson Philippe took over in 1922 and began selling bottled wines. Mouton's privileged terroir and its very old vines, magnified in recent vintages thanks to the favors of the climate and the help of a magnificent winery introduced in 2013, produce perhaps the most formally perfect wine in the Médoc. But that won't stop it from closing as a great vintage before reaching a climax that is predicted to be glorious. The second wine, petit-mouton, resembles the first like a little brother, and the white, aile-d'argent, is gradually becoming one of the Médoc's most complete.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

As a sign of the times, Philippine de Rothschild has chosen a gouache by British artist Anish Kapoor to illustrate this vintage, whose color is almost as deep black as the artist's canvas. A hue that speaks volumes about the wine's potential. Concentrated and complex, the bouquet follows suit, displaying a broad palette dominated by black fruits and notes of café au lait with hints of incense. Rich, round, fat, fleshy and full, the palate confirms the presentation, playing on a symphonic register, carried by a framework of exceptional density and an unforgettable finish. Just one question: when will this great bottle reach its absolute peak? In ten, fifteen or twenty-five years?

About the domain :

Acquired by the Rothschild family in 1853, Ch. Mouton Rothschild is strongly linked to the personality of Baron Philippe. After taking over the estate in 1922, Baron Philippe restored the estate to its former glory by modernizing it (notably through the construction of the famous "grand chai"), a process which culminated in 1973 with the revision of the 1855 classification and Mouton's elevation to the rank of 1ercru classé. Baron Philippe also made the estate the foundation of a small empire that included other vineyards and a trading house. He also played an important role in the history of wine, being one of the first to bottle at the château, as early as 1926, and having his labels illustrated by artists. From 1988 onwards, his daughter Philippine, who died in 2014, continued his work. She was succeeded by her children, Camille and Philippe Sereys de Rothschild and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild. Philippe Dhalluin has been the director since 2003. His 84-hectare vineyard is located mainly on a very deep gravelly hillside known as the "Plateau de Mouton", and a brand-new vat room was completed in 2013.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Dark garnet in color, the 2009 Mouton Rothschild forgoes earthy notions of undergrowth, tilled soil and mushrooms, on a core of crème de cassis, plum jam and Indian spices with a hint of camphor. Full-bodied, with a firm texture and velvety tannins, preserved black fruits and layers of exotic spices, it offers seamless freshness and a very long, fruity finish.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Tasted just after bottling, it confirms its status as a great success. This is a very complete wine, creamy and silky, yet powerful and straightforward. The fruit is crisp and the tannic mass perfectly integrated. A legend for the cru

About the domain :

Philippe Sereys de Rothschild has presided over this iconic family estate in Pauillac since 2014. The wine, always flamboyant, naturally exhaling generous smoky notes, is more in place than ever. If Mouton went through a slump in the mid-1990s, it was brilliantly revived in the early 2000s. Since then, a series of grandiose vintages has continued to write the legend of the only Cru Classé de 1855 to have been promoted: from second to first in 1973. Philippe Dhalluin, the architect of the cru's revival, has handed over the reins to a solid duo: Ariane Khaida (general manager) and Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy (technical director). Mouton, equipped with a new winery since 2013, is evolving at the top. Note the progress made by the white, clearer and more precise than ever.

Wine Spectator

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling