Tasting Notes
Antonio Galloni 100
A towering, thrilling wine, the 2016 Mouton Rothschild is unbelievably beautiful today. Aromatics, fruit density and vertical structure all come together. In the glass, the 2016 is remarkably vivid and powerful, and yet a gentler, more feminine side emerges with time in the glass. The intense, mineral, savory profile recalls the 1986, but the 2016 has more grace, inner sweetness and sophistication than that wine. Even so, the 2016 is going to need at least a number of years in bottle before it starts drinking well, although it won’t be the bruiser the 1986 remains to this day. This is breathtaking wine from Mouton, Tecnical Director Philippe Dhalluin and his team.
Anticipated maturity: 2026-2041
Neal Martin 96
The 2016 Mouton-Rothschild is extremely pure on the nose, with mineral-rich black fruit, cedar and violet scents, very delineated and focused, gaining intensity with each swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, with svelte tannins, fine acidity, very smooth and harmonious, yet maybe not as complex and detailed as the very best ’16s; yet there is a fluidity to this that is wonderful. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
Anticipated maturity: 2030-2060
Wine Advocate 100
Composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Mouton Rothschild has an opaque garnet-purple color. WOW—the nose explodes from the glass with powerful blackcurrant cordial, black raspberries, blueberry pie and melted chocolate notions, plus suggestions of aniseed, camphor, lifted kirsch and the faintest waft of a subtle floral perfume in the background. Full-bodied, concentrated, bold and totally seductive in the mouth, it has very fine-grained, silt-like tannins, while jam-packed with tightly wound fruit layers, finishing in this wonderful array of mineral sparks. Magic.
Anticipated maturity: 2022-2085
