Château Mouton Rothschild 2016

A generous, pure and lush ball of Cabernet, with wave after wave of unadulterated cassis and blackberry purée flavors rolling through. Features notes of roasted apple wood and sweet tobacco, offset by a long tug of sweet earth, but that's all background music to the impressive core of fruit, which steams along like a cruise ship with enough stores in reserve to go around the world twice without stopping. Best from 2025 through 2045.

In 2016, Mouton produced one of the top contenders for wine of the vintage. Massive and profound, it also retains wonderful freshness that enhances the appeal of this monumental First Growth. Deep and impenetrable in color, with cassis, exotic spice, and lead-pencil/graphite notes on both the nose and palate, this Mouton stays light on its feet while carrying the structure to age for 50 years. Still very young, this will probably be a 100-point wine with a few extra years of ageing.

Dark ruby, purple color. Aromas of blackcurrants, black truffle, crushed stone, licorice and hints of tar. Full-bodied, deep and vertical on the palate, drawing you in and down. The structure is very tannic and powerful, yet the tannins are folded into the wine. One of the most powerful Moutons ever for me. Try after 2027.

Tasted blind. Rich, round and juicy. Very transparent and easy and beautiful. Just the job. Great balance. Glorious. (JR)

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, Technical Director Philippe Dhalluin and his team.

The nose can only be described as black currant liqueur. From there you find five spice, blackberry and wild cherry. The barrel aging has really concentrated this wine. Unctuous, intense, concentrated and flat-out delicious. It is not often Pauillac is described as decadent. But that is exactly what takes place here. The wine covers every taste receptor on your palate. If you have the chance to taste this elixir, don't pass on it. If you have the disposable income to lay this incredible wine down, do it, as this is going to be impossibly expensive as it matures.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core with a light, bright rim. Blackberry fruit with fine savoury notes, a hint of nougat and noble oak, a fine touch of cassis in the background. On the palate, complex, ripe sweet cherry, integrated ripe tannins, blackberry jam and more nougat. The wine has an impressive backbone, fine structure with freshness, blackberry and cassis fruit on the finish, a mineral echo, great length and excellent ageing potential.

Very fine oak and toastiness with coffee bean and mocha paired with intense dark fruit notes such as crème de cassis, dark cherry, plum and some exotic spiciness like mint, sage, aniseed and liquorice. Very dense and concentrated core with layers of savoury dark fruit, fine proportions and very good balance despite its youth. Intense and lingering finish hanging on with roasted dark fruit notes.

I believe the 2016 Château Mouton Rothschild will be one of the legendary wines of the 21st century, and it might be the finest wine I've ever tasted. Still deep purple-hued and incredibly young, it offers an incredible sense of purity and precision in its darker currant, blueberry, and cassis-like fruits as well as classic graphite, lead pencil, violet, and tobacco aromatics. With flawless balance and perfect integration of its fruit, acidity, oak, and tannins, this concentrated, full-bodied, utterly magical Pauillac is going to need 15 years to hit its prime drink window, and I suspect will see its 75th birthday in fine form. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 1% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Dark purple with a dense core and a violet rim. Densely woven blueberry-scented bouquet with blackberries and licorice, followed by blackcurrants and a touch of After Eight mint. On the palate, supporting tannins, finely grippy, yet the most advanced in development of the three Pauillac Premiers: richness and freshness are already in balance, a soothing Mouton that will deliver early drinking pleasure.

Kunz barrel sample 17: (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot) Dense, velvety, complex, fresh, sweet bouquet with cassis cream, fine plum notes, mint, mocha. Creamy, finely opulent, dense, multi-layered palate with powerful, sweet aromatics, a dense, velvety structure, plenty of fine tannins, full, sweet fruit, and a very long, fresh finish.

Finely concentrated, complex bouquet of plum, mint, mocha, flint. Dense, concentrated, powerful palate with a creamy, compact structure, plenty of fine tannins, a dense, concentrated core, layered, deep aromatics, very long, superb finish. 20/20 2025 - 2050

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Mouton Rothschild has a pH of 3.62 and a very deep purple-black color. It is very closed to begin, requiring a lot of swirling to unleash a powerful wall of crème de cassis, juicy black plums, and scents of boysenberries, followed by nuances of star anise, incense, violets, crushed rocks, and camphor, plus emerging iron ore and rose oil hints. The medium- to full-bodied palate is densely packed with layer upon layer of black fruit preserves and perfumed floral and exotic spice accents, framed by beautifully ripe, plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with an epically long fruit and mineral firework display. Gorgeous!

The legendary Mouton 2016 has arrived. This immense wine is still evolving. With superb complexity, restrained power and an endless finish, it asserts its vibration. One to forget in the cellar.

Deep purple with violet highlights. What a moving, exceptional, fascinating bouquet. With astounding subtlety and finesse, the nose sets the tone and creates an intense emotion. The entry is graceful, imposing, elegant. Naturally, the palate follows in the same vein. It is imposing in its power yet, above all, impressive in its finesse. The aromatic side unfolds with subtlety and quickly gains in intensity, spreading across the entire palate, while the acidic structure provides brilliant support and, in synergy with the tannins, promises a brilliant future. I believe Mouton 2016 is the worthy heir to 1986 and 1945… in due course, it will stand on the podium of the greatest Mouton Rothschild. Fresh, juicy, and persistent finish.

The nose is fruity, elegant and offers lovely definition as well as concentration (yet with finesse). It reveals notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy blackcurrant and, more subtly, fleshy strawberry, together with small touches of cherry in kirsch, blueberry, as well as discreet hints of violet, flowers, tonka bean, a subtle hint of spice and a very discreet touch of licorice. The palate is fruity, airy, beautifully structured and offers lovely juiciness, delicious smoothness, fine definition, smoothness, beautiful roundness, fine grain, a lovely touch, tension and great delicacy. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy blackberry and fleshy/juicy blackcurrant, combined with small touches of strawberry, graphite and oak. The tannins are fine, elegant and young. Good length. The finish brings chewiness as well as indulgence.

Dark, intense, and deep color. Highly aromatic nose, delicate, fruity, complex, and creamy. Broad on the attack, velvety and fleshy mid-palate, then rich, powerful yet meltingly smooth, this wine spans every flavor register. It stretches into a complex, savory finish with a noble touch, full of flavor and immense length. And even after spitting, there remains something suave and delicious. What a marvel to express so much with such a moderate alcohol level!

The rich fruit in this wine nearly envelops the tannins. Flavors of black plums, blackberries and blueberries meld with intense acidity to mask the power and concentration of the polished tannins. With this structure, will age for many, many years. Do not drink before 2026.