2005 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
SKU #1037352
96
points
James Suckling
This is very 'Mouton.' Aromas of flowers, currants, cassis, and minerals open up to hints of lead pencil on the nose. Full and very dense on the palate, this wine is polished and very friendly. This is beautiful from beginning to end. Find the wine.
(4/ 2011)
96
points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2005 Mouton Rothschild will have to take a back seat to the prodigious 2006, but administrator Philippe Dalhuin deserves considerable credit for pushing Mouton to higher quality levels over recent years. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot, the dark purple-hued 2005 exhibits a restrained but promising nose of cedar, tobacco leaf, creme de cassis, and toasty oak. Full-bodied, tannic, and extremely backward, with the vintage’s tell-tale acidity, it appears to be even more closed in the bottle than it was from barrel. It does possess a long finish and multilayered mouthfeel. This is an undeniably outstanding, yet restrained, shy wine for a Mouton Rothschild. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040+
(4/ 2008)
95
points
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Full ruby-red. Explosive, superripe aromas of black raspberry, currant, graphite and tobacco leaf. Outsized, opulent and generous; this big boy saturates the entire mouth. There's an almost exotic character to the plum and cedar flavors. Spreads out impressively on the back end, coating the palate with ripe tannins. The 2006 is at once finer and more powerful, with more noble tannins, but this is more opulent.
(6/ 2008)
95
points
Wine Enthusiast
If 2005 was a rich year, Mouton reaches the heights of richness. Almost too rich, too New World, but you have to be impressed by the aromatic intensity of the black fruits, the dense, firm tannins, and the superripe black juice and licorice flavors. The wood is still too overpowering and needs time to settle in.
(6/ 2008)
95
points
Wine Spectator
Dark purple black in color. Complex aromas of mineral, licorice, lead pencil and blackberry follow through to a full body, with ultrafine tannins and a caressing, pretty finish. Has a lovely texture. Shows elegance and refinement. Best after 2012.
(3/ 2008)
K&L Notes
60% of the crop made it into this wine. 100% new oak. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Very perfumy nose. Red fruit, cranberry (cranberry flavors, too). This is a rather delicate wine. Mid weight. Nice texture. Lighter colored, with a creamy, silky, velvety mouthfeel. Not huge. Good wine. ** (Clyde Beffa, K&L Bordeaux buyer)