2003 Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac
SKU #1025606
95
points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Backward, powerful, and extremely tannic, the dense purple-colored 2003 Mouton-Rothschild, a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, fashioned from yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare, with a finished alcohol of 12.9%, improves dramatically with aeration. With full-bodied, meaty, powerful, dry flavors as well as a huge finish, this high class wine should be at its finest between 2012-2040+. During its sojourn in barrel, it reminded me of a hypothetical blend of the 1982 and 1986 Moutons, but since bottling, it appears different, and even more tannic than those two vintages. (95+)
(4/ 2006)
94
points
James Suckling
A beautiful intensity to this wine, flowers, plums, and freshness on the nose. Full and rich, with round ripe tannins and a medium finish. Flavors of fresh herbs, flowers, and tobacco on the palate. A lovely wine right now, but give this some more time. Pull the cork in 2014.
(4/ 2011)
94
points
Wine Enthusiast
This wine is dominated by new wood, which goes right through the big, dark fruit flavors and tannins. Very ripe cassis flavors are under this wood, waiting likely for many years before the wood flavors subside. This is very much in the modern, polished style of Mouton today, made even more pronounced by the heat of the 2003 vintage.
(5/ 2006)
94
points
Wine Spectator
Blackberry, cherry and currant with just a hint of toasted oak. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a lovely combination of ripe fruit and vanilla character. Goes on and on. Long and very stylish. Balanced and refined. Best after 2011.
(3/ 2006)
93
points
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Good medium ruby. This is downright exotic on the nose: mocha, coffee, graphite and coconut, lifted by sandalwood and cinnamon spice. Then dense, supple and fine-grained without coming across as heavy. Suggestion of aromatic tree bark. A seamless wine that spreads out horizontally on the back end and finishes with very fine tannins. A bit less extreme than the average 2003, but the 2005 Mouton has more class. I suspect this is on the verge of shutting down in bottle.
(6/ 2006)
Jancis Robinson
Dark crimson. Rich and haunting and lovely and complete with both lift and depth. Exciting. Reverberant.
(10/ 2010)
K&L Notes
Spicy, smoky aromas with meaty nuances and coffee on the nose. Toasty oak flavors with black fruits abounding. A very sexy wine with good palate impression. Power behind elegance right now. Very good. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. **.5 (03/04) (Clyde Beffa, K&L's Bordeaux Buyer)