Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2015

Château Mouton Rothschild, one of Bordeaux's finest estates, is located 50 kilometres to the north-west of the city in the Haut-Medoc commune of Pauillac. One of the most coveted and expensive wines in the world is its Château wine, or "grand vin." After years of lobbying by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who oversaw the estate from 1922 until his passing in 1988, Mouton was ultimately elevated to the highest classification (Premier Cru or First Growth) of the renowned Bordeaux Classification of 1855 in 1973. Instead of sending its wine to merchants to be bottled elsewhere, Mouton was the first in the area to bottle at the estate.

Although 2015 was slightly warmer than average, it was above all very dry (706 mm of rain, compared with an annual average of 862 mm), especially between February and July, from budbreak to veraison. As a result the berries remained small, which explains why the yield was rather low even though we had hopes of a normal crop after flowering. Higher-than-average rainfall in August and September helped to prevent the ripening process from coming to a halt in a vineyard already stressed by the lack of water. Consequently the grapes matured at rather different rates from one parcel to another, according to the terroir, the grape variety and the age of the vines.

In order to ensure that each variety and each parcel was picked at optimum maturity, the harvest period was the longest in living memory. It lasted 23 days between our three estates, from the first Merlots on 14 September to the last Cabernet Sauvignons on 6 October. The grapes were magnificent and fermentation took place quickly. The wines immediately showed plenty of colour and a complete array of very intense aromas ranging from red and black fruit to spice and incense. The tannins are generally very well-rounded, dense and seamlessly smooth. After blending, the wines still have the same aromatic intensity and complex, full-bodied structures which barrel-maturing should further enhance. Our 2015 vintage in Pauillac is very similar in its heft and opulence to the 2005 vintage.

The wine has an attractive, deep and dark colour with a purple tint. The refined and elegant nose reveals fruity wild blackberry and bilberry aromas. Notes of toast, liquorice and blond tobacco then emerge to fill out a rich and complex range of aromas. The fresh, full-bodied and slightly saline attack shows great intensity, opening on smooth and creamy tannins which enfold a silky texture lifted by a touch of minerality. The impression on the palate is very full, rich in ripe fruit and peppery spice flavours. An exceptionally long finish. concludes a remarkably balanced wine.

Decadent and rich aromas of black cherries and plums with wet earth and sandalwood. Turns to dried mushrooms. Full-bodied, tight and closed with big, polished tannins, yet this is very closed and shy right now. Despite this, underneath it shows such depth and beauty. Tangy acidity. This is a combination of 2005 and 2009. Try it in 2024. - James Suckling, 99 Points

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Cabernet Sauvignon 82%, Merlot 16%, Cabernet Franc 2%
Country - France
Region - Bordeaux
Vintage - 2015
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
Closure - Cork