Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1996

Professional Ratings

• 97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  The last time I tasted the 1996 Mouton Rothschild (maybe a couple of years ago?), I recall it was a bit broody and closed. This showing was anything but! Deep garnet in color, it sashays out of the glass with lavishly dressed, gregarious crème de cassis, baked blackberries and plum pudding scents plus touches of menthol, fenugreek, star anise and sandalwood with fleeting glimpses at dried rose petals and oolong tea. The full-bodied palate is richly fruited, opulent and oh-so seductive, with bags of youthful black fruit and lovely finely grained tannins, finishing with fantastic freshness and length.

  Rating: 97+

• 97 Decanter

  A Mouton of absolutely outstanding perfume, in which the 10% Cabernet Franc really shines cocoa, white pepper, strawberry, simply one of the most aromatically interesting Mouton's ever. The 13% Merlot and only 77% Cabernet Sauvignon in this blend have made for a suppler, more open knit Mouton than usual. Knockout wine.

• 96 Wine Spectator
  Incredible nose of ultraripe fruit, it's yet subtle and complex. Full-bodied, with very ripe, almost sweet fruit and a long, long caressing finish. Superb. This is edging out the 1995.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010.
• 94 James Suckling

  The bottle I opened was fabulous on the nose with aromas of currants, cedar, sweet tobacco, incense, and flowers. It was full-bodied, with very fine silky tannins and similar flavors as the aromas. However, a slightly green undertone came thorough on the palate. It didn’t bother me, but the Italians seemed annoyed with it – even disappointed. Regardless, I scored the wine.