Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2023 (May Pre-Arrival)

100 Points, Decanter
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.

100 Points, Vinous
The 2023 Mouton Rothschild is bright and explosive in the glass. Vibrant, rich and deep and so beautifully expressive, the 2023 Mouton is one of my early candidates for wine of the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon is bumped up to 93% (the highest ever, just behind the 2010), with 7% Merlot and no Cabernet Franc or Petit Verdot in the blend. Time in the glass brings out darker shades of fruit along with the wine’s complex, dynamic personality. This is a magnificent Grand Vin.”

100 Points, Jane Anson -Inside Bordeaux
This was one of my 100-point potentials when tasting En Primeur, and it’s fully delivering. It has closed down in the way that Petit Mouton has opened up, and here I really feel the full power of the tannic grip, one of the highest amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon on record, coiled and still-concealing a ton of graphite, cocoa bean, cool blue fruits set against creamy damson, cigar box, crayon, sandalwood, incense, promise. A long lived Mouton, with depth, power and balance at just over 13%, the magic of these soils.