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Mouton Rothschild 2009

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Mouton Rothschild

Label

Tasting Notes

The 2009 Mouton-Rothschild is as concentrated as the 2010, but it presents itself in a more consumer-friendly, seductive style. Opulently textured and full-bodied with gorgeous levels of crème de cassis, melted licorice, espresso roast and chocolate, it possesses high but sweet, velvety tannins, massive body, and fabulous purity as well as length. This could turn out to be a candidate for perfection in another 8-10 years. It will drink well for 30-50 years, but will always be much more approachable and charming than its 2010 counterpart.

99
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (216), December 2014

The 2009 Mouton-Rothschild has a more refined bouquet compared to the 2009 Latour, with scents of blackberry, graphite, undergrowth and hints of pressed rose petals. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded entry. The intense black fruit is laced with pencil shaving and white pepper notes (indeed, the tip of the tongue tingles after the wine has exited.) This is a multi-dimensional First Growth with a very persistent finish. Mouton-Rothschild? Bingo. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. 2022 - 2055

97
Neal Martin, vinous.com, March 2019

The 2009 is a powerful, smoky wine that is impressive in its power and richness. Seductive on the nose with notes of incense, coffee and black fruit compote, you can sense the warmth of the vintage without falling into excess. The palate is impressive, this is full bodied, richly smoky and dense in black fruit. Chalky and chewy with a gloss over the tannins, it is a real crowdpleaser. At this stage the toastiness is prominent together with the fruit, I expect with more time in bottle this will integrate nicely and the more refined tones of cedar, leather and undergrowth will offer a profile closer to classic northern Medoc. For now this is an impressive and hedonistic Mouton with a very long and spice-led finish.

98
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, March 2023

The pureness of fruit in this on the nose is phenomenal, with crushed currants and cassis. It's deep, so deep. Also some foie gras. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and an insanely decadent finish, with meat, game and dark fruits. Goes on for minutes. Decadent and turns to dark fruits cassis and licorice. Warm and voluptuous wine. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. Try in 2020.

98
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2012

Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Mouton Rothschild gives up bold earthy notions of underbrush, tilled soil and fungi over a core of crème de cassis, plum preserves and Indian spices with a waft of camphor. Full-bodied with a firm, velvety tannin texture and packed with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, it has seamless freshness and a very long, decadently fruited finish. Drink 2020-2060.

99
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, March 2019

Tasted blind. Rich and intriguing. There is savour and intrigue here but perhaps a little less concentration than some. More open then some. Salty and mineral. 13% Drink 2020-2050

19
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2019

This is Mouton on top form. We are talking 1982 quality here! Since the arrival of new winemaker, Philippe Dallhuin, and under the management of Hervé Berland, Mouton has stepped up a level. After making the wine of the vintage in 2006 they might have done it again in 2009. With fruit now selected only from the core original vineyard site, Mouton is very much at the top of its game. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot with all the Cabernet Franc relegated to the second wine. An amazing colour, as black as a starless night. A huge, brooding powerful nose. Multi-dimensional on the palate with a dazzling array of fleshy, black fruit spiced with vanilla and cigar box. Complex and profound. The essence of Cabernet Sauvignon and First Growth claret. One suspects that like the 1982 it will be approachable in its youth but will last for decades. A truly great Mouton that is at the very least at the level of the 2006, but almost certainly in the same league as the 1986 and 1982.The new 1959? Fantastic. Just about perfect.

100
Farr Vintners, April 2010

There is a lot happening on the nose with bilberry vying with cherry backed by wood smoke. There is richness on the palate, brooding power with behind freshness that lifts and lightens the flavours. It has the perfect balance between serious, concentrated fruit and floral elegance. Drink 2022-2050.

93/97
Derek Smedley MW, April 2010

Some people have claimed that this is one of the wines of the vintage, but I don't see it myself. Tasting it blind, you could mistake it for a top Chilean Carmenere. It has lots of charry, sweet oak, dense, concentrated, chocolately fruit and lush tannins. Lots of bling, then, but not a whole lot of finesse or balance. It's flashy and impressive, but where's the soul? 15+ years.

94
Tim Atkin MW, April 2010

Black red, concentrated black fruits, rich satiny/velvety yet firm texture, rich, plummy, spicy, an explosion of aromas and flavours, surrounded and controlled by superb tannins, a sensually expressive wine. Drink 2016-40.

19
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2010

With a ton of ripe blackcurrant and some bitter chocolate this is a rich and rather opulent wine that still retains a delightful freshness and has a long, positively dry finish. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

98
Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com, March 2019
Read more tasting notes...

The 2009 Mouton Rothschild has a striking label from Anish Kapoor. The wine is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot that begs comparison as a young wine with what the 1982 tasted like in 1985 or, I suspect, what the 1959 may have tasted like in 1962. Representing 50% of their production, the wine has an inky purple color to the rim and not terribly high alcohol for a 2009 (13.2%), but that is reflected by the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a remarkable nose of lead pencil shavings, violets, creme de cassis and subtle barrique smells. It is stunningly opulent, fat, and super-concentrated, but the luxurious fruit tends to conceal some rather formidable tannins in the finish. This is an amazing wine that will be slightly more drinkable at an earlier age than I thought from barrel, but capable of lasting 50 or more years. Kudos to the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and the entire Mouton team, lead by Monsieur Dalhuin.

99+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, March 2012

This is the most backward and unevolved of all the Left Bank (Medoc) first-growths. In 10-20 years, the 2009 Mouton Rothschild should rank alongside the greatest vintages of the last three decades (1986 and 1982). Yields were a small 30 hectoliters per hectare, the final blend is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot, and the finished alcohol is 13.2% (not particularly high in this vintage). The pH is 3.81, and the index of tannins, the highest ever measured, a whopping 20% higher than the next highest vintage. The tannins, while present, are silky and well-integrated, one of the hallmarks of the 2009 vintage. An inky/purple color is accompanied by classic aromas of creme de cassis, violets, and hints of graphite and background oak. The overwhelming impression is one of layer upon layer of fruit, full-bodied opulence, and good structure. It tastes as if it were 2-3 months old rather than a post-malolactic, fully assembled barrel sample ... it's that young, but so incredibly promising. A 50- to 100-year wine? Probably. (Tasted once).

96/98+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188), April 2010

Tasted at the château, the Mouton '09 is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot, one of the highest Cabernet components (until 2010!) Coming straight after Latour 2009, the Mouton is a little more bashful on the nose and demands coaxing, but it is well worth biding your time and letting it blossom in the glass. Blackberry, raspberry, cold wet limestone and a faint touch of apricot blossom in the background. Very well defined, elegant and composed aromatic profile. The palate is dense and full-bodied with beautifully composed tannins, a touch more opulent and perhaps spicier than the Latour, fanning out beautifully to a very complex finish with blackberry, cassis, charcoal, graphite and sous-bois. Superb persistency - incredible length. Outstanding…and it comes with a spellbinding Anish Kapoor label. Tasted November 2011.

97
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, November 2011

Tasted at the château. A blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot, the highest percentage of Cabernet since 1963. Delivering 13.1% alcohol and an IPT was close to 80. The nose is tight at first and demands so coaxing from the glass, but unfurls to reveal a very pure aromatic profile: quite strict, more like Grand Puy Lacoste, a touch of smoke, very fine mineralité. The palate is medium-bodied very precise, supple tannins, superb Cabernet Sauvignon, taking time to open up but it does towards the finish, touches of tobacco and sous-bois underlying the ripe but not decadent fruit. The tannins are not quite as fine as Latour, but there is a lovely sensuality on the finish. Tasted March 2010.

94/96
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2010

I am speechless over the nose in this wine. Mint, blackberry, currant and black licorice turn to flowers such as lilacs and roses. Wow. It fills your mouth with the same fruit, but with an intensity of superpolished tannins. It finishes with complex yet reserved coffee, toasted oak and ripe fruit and then in two or three minutes it becomes milk chocolate. Just a joy to taste. Best Mouton since 1982 or 1986; in fact, it's like a blend of the two. A perfect Mouton? 88 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 12 percent Merlot.

97/100
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2010

48% of the crop, picked 3 days earlier than usual because the grapes were so ripe. Average yield 45 hl/ha. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot.Very dark indeed. Very Mouton. Very exotic, minerals, spice and old ladies' handbags. Lovely topnotes. Real excitement on the nose here. Obviously great density but lots of grace notes. Lovely palate entry and glossy texture. Then again drier and a little more astringent than its peers on the finish. A difficult wine to mark because the nose is SO gorgeous! I think it may require just a bit more patience than some. Just seemed in a slightly low register when I tasted it. All the Mouton wines had ruder tannins than usual in 2009. Date tasted 1st April 2010. Drink 2020-2040.

18.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2010
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.