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Tasting Of Chateau Mouton Rothschild
At The Wine Summit 2008 – Lake Louise, Alberta
Tasted May 31, 2008 by Hank Gillespie with 1,475 views
Introduction
This tasting was conducted by Adrien Laurent, Mouton’s Export Manager for North America.
The estate comprises 92.5 Hectares ( 205 acres ) planted with 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Grapes are hand harvested by between 500 – 700 pickers, and 95% new oak is used to age the wine.
Mouton is conscious of the expectations of the market for First Growths. Consequently a severe selection is employed e.g. ranging from 95% of the harvest being used in 2000 but just 42% of the harvest the previous year, 1999. In 2007 only 42% of the wine will make the first wine.
Production level in the 1980’s ran about 37,000 cases annually, but this production level declined to between 25,000 and 27,000 cases in the 1990’s. For comparison purposes here are the production levels post-2000 :
21,000 cases in 2001
25,000 cases in 2002
21,000 cases in 2003
20,000 cases in 2005
16,000 cases in 2007.
According to Adrien Laurent the market will likely see high prices for 2007.
Flight 1 (9 notes)
Vintages of Chateau Mouton Rothschild tasted at this session were 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1993 and 1988.
Red
2003 Château Mouton Rothschild
Blend – 76% CS, 14& M, 8% CF and 2% PV – 13% Alc. – harvested between September 15 and September 24.
Deep garnet/ruby – fuzzy pink rim; aromas with pronounced cedar – spices – black currant; clean entry – smooth but quickly shows some fuzzy tannins; powerful and round on the palate, with some freshness resulting from the acidity; deep black currant stretches through the mid-palate – some sweet oak, too; finishes nicely – somewhat easier than one might expect – long and lingering black currant fruit. This is an impressive young wine, but will require a number of years to successfully develop more harmony.
Deep garnet/ruby – fuzzy pink rim; aromas with pronounced cedar – spices – black currant; clean entry – smooth but quickly shows some fuzzy tannins; powerful and round on the palate, with some freshness resulting from the acidity; deep black currant stretches through the mid-palate – some sweet oak, too; finishes nicely – somewhat easier than one might expect – long and lingering black currant fruit. This is an impressive young wine, but will require a number of years to successfully develop more harmony.
Red
2002 Château Mouton Rothschild
Late Indian Summer – harvested between 9/30 and 10/10 – final blend 77% CS, 12% M, 10% CF and 1% PV – 13% Alc.
Another very dark wine – deep ruby; more oak in the aromas, with some floral scents – black fruit; elegant entry – lighter bodied than the 2003; good acidity – refined tannins – plenty of sweet edged black currant fruit, almost chewy; finishes rather quickly, but without any adverse characteristics
Another very dark wine – deep ruby; more oak in the aromas, with some floral scents – black fruit; elegant entry – lighter bodied than the 2003; good acidity – refined tannins – plenty of sweet edged black currant fruit, almost chewy; finishes rather quickly, but without any adverse characteristics
Red
2001 Château Mouton Rothschild
95% CS; 3% M, 2$ CF – 12.5% Alc.
Deep ruby – wide rim; warm – more integrated nose – smoke edged oak along with the black currants; round and full on the palate; attractive black currant fruit, but there is also a pleasing dose of lighter berries; tart acidity – tannins in check; reasonably harmonious, with an attractive finish, where the sweet lack currant fruit holds all the way through.
Deep ruby – wide rim; warm – more integrated nose – smoke edged oak along with the black currants; round and full on the palate; attractive black currant fruit, but there is also a pleasing dose of lighter berries; tart acidity – tannins in check; reasonably harmonious, with an attractive finish, where the sweet lack currant fruit holds all the way through.
Red
2000 Château Mouton Rothschild
86% CS, 14% M ; I didn’t catch the Alc. Level;
Particularly dark – ruby, with a wide pinkish rim; medium deep aromas; some olive – slightly herbaceous note, but this vanishes on swirling – cedar comes through – some light smoke – then very focused and intensive black currant fruit; sweet entry - quite round on the palate; excellent concentration and extract – fine structure; intense black currant fruit – quite fresh, and this carries on with the acidity into a lengthy finish.
Particularly dark – ruby, with a wide pinkish rim; medium deep aromas; some olive – slightly herbaceous note, but this vanishes on swirling – cedar comes through – some light smoke – then very focused and intensive black currant fruit; sweet entry - quite round on the palate; excellent concentration and extract – fine structure; intense black currant fruit – quite fresh, and this carries on with the acidity into a lengthy finish.
Red
1998 Château Mouton Rothschild
86% CS, 12% M, 2% CF;
Another extremely dark black/ruby – opaque in the glass; quite pungent on the nose, but the elements within come though cleanly – nose opens up on swirling to reveal cedar, some smoke, berry fruit; a bit dry on the palate – good acidity – tannins fairly in check but nevertheless noticeable; flavours feature roasted coffee, black currants – not as persistent as the previous wine, but finishes pleasantly enough but not a massively styled wine.
Another extremely dark black/ruby – opaque in the glass; quite pungent on the nose, but the elements within come though cleanly – nose opens up on swirling to reveal cedar, some smoke, berry fruit; a bit dry on the palate – good acidity – tannins fairly in check but nevertheless noticeable; flavours feature roasted coffee, black currants – not as persistent as the previous wine, but finishes pleasantly enough but not a massively styled wine.
Red
1996 Château Mouton Rothschild
72% CS, 20% M, 8% CF;
Extremely dark – opaque in the glass; medley of aromas that include sweet edged black currants, light smoke, truffles, a bit of tanned leather, some oak, all with a slightly herbaceous background; structure is firm with noticeable tannins – ample acidity; hasn’t mellowed much to show the fruit and other flavour nuances that much, but there is some sweet edged black currant along with some black raspberry; finishes long with the wine not in full sync – needs more time in bottle to bring the various components into harmony
Extremely dark – opaque in the glass; medley of aromas that include sweet edged black currants, light smoke, truffles, a bit of tanned leather, some oak, all with a slightly herbaceous background; structure is firm with noticeable tannins – ample acidity; hasn’t mellowed much to show the fruit and other flavour nuances that much, but there is some sweet edged black currant along with some black raspberry; finishes long with the wine not in full sync – needs more time in bottle to bring the various components into harmony
Red
1995 Château Mouton Rothschild
72% CS, 19% M, 9% CF – 12.5% Alc.; Early harvest between September 12th and 27th.
Dark garnet/ruby – wide rim; initially a rather odd bouquet as the cigar box comes through strongly – eases up to reveal some smoky oak and black currant fruit; nicely balanced on the palate – seamless expression of the components – good structure; persistent fruit in the finish – black currant and some mocha; lingering finish.
Dark garnet/ruby – wide rim; initially a rather odd bouquet as the cigar box comes through strongly – eases up to reveal some smoky oak and black currant fruit; nicely balanced on the palate – seamless expression of the components – good structure; persistent fruit in the finish – black currant and some mocha; lingering finish.
Red
1993 Château Mouton Rothschild
This was the vintage with the two labels – one “blank” for the U.S. and the other for the rest of the World.
Less depth of colour in this wine – attractive ruby; much more complexity on the nose – mixed flowers, spice, black currant fruit, marred a bit by the fairly discernable herbaceous edge; a bit more tannic that the last couple of wines, but good concentration of black currant fruit; fairly full; finishes well with the sweet currant fruit – tannins stay on to the end.
Less depth of colour in this wine – attractive ruby; much more complexity on the nose – mixed flowers, spice, black currant fruit, marred a bit by the fairly discernable herbaceous edge; a bit more tannic that the last couple of wines, but good concentration of black currant fruit; fairly full; finishes well with the sweet currant fruit – tannins stay on to the end.
Red
1988 Château Mouton Rothschild
75% CS, 13% M, 10% CF, 2% PV;
Medium full colour – ruby/garnet, with a slight amber rim; penetrating black currant fruit in the bouquet, some cedar ad spice, and just a hint of smoke; supple texture – fine harmony – sweet edged black currant fruit – roasted nuts – coffee; solid frame where the tannins seem well absorbed; fine balance; long and satisfying finish, dominated by the black currant fruit. Really quite attractive !
Medium full colour – ruby/garnet, with a slight amber rim; penetrating black currant fruit in the bouquet, some cedar ad spice, and just a hint of smoke; supple texture – fine harmony – sweet edged black currant fruit – roasted nuts – coffee; solid frame where the tannins seem well absorbed; fine balance; long and satisfying finish, dominated by the black currant fruit. Really quite attractive !