Tasting Notes
Vinous 93
The 1995 Mouton Rothschild was tasted from ex-chateau bottles, and I had not tasted this vintage for a number of years. This puts in a very good performance given that it was not an auspicious decade for the First Growth. A melange of red and black fruit gradually gives way to cassis on the nose, lending it a rather ostentatious bouquet that was synonymous with Mouton at the time. The palate offers precocious black fruit fused with graphite and prominent cedar aromas. The finish is luscious, maybe too luscious for some, though personally I would be inclined to afford it more time in bottle. Not classy, but very seductive. Tasted at the Academie du Vin dinner in Bordeaux.
Anticipated maturity: 2028-2048
Robert Parker 94
While the 1995 Mouton Rothschild has begun to soften somewhat in the last six or seven years, it remains remarkably youthful. Offering up a deep and primary bouquet of ripe cassis fruit and creamy new oak, it’s medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with a vibrant core of concentrated fruit, powdery tannins and a long, resonant finish. This is a pure, beautifully balanced Mouton that simply hasn’t evolved very much, even as it closes in on its third decade. While I can attest that it can be drunk with great enjoyment today, real complexity has yet to emerge.
Anticipated maturity: 2020-2055
JancisRobinson.com 18
Harvested 12-27 September. 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. Cabernet was rather compromised by rain during the harvest, while the Merlot was very successful. Even darker than the 1996, this Mouton is still remarkably youthful in appearance. More flamboyant on the nose, with cigar-box, spices and leafy blackcurrant notes all evident. There is plenty of concentration and weight for further ageing, although the tannins are a little dry – perhaps a reflection of the harvest conditions. Still a very impressive Mouton. (AWH)
Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030
