2001 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac

SKU #1013342 94 points James Suckling

This complex on the nose with black cherry, black currant and graphite aromas. It's very fleshy on the palate with chewy tannins and lots of fruit. This is still a reserved and structured Bordeaux, but with power lurking beneath. Still a baby. (11/2015)

94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This has another outstanding bouquet with notes of blackberry, wild hedgerow, graphite and a touch of orange peel. Great delineation and vigour, a little more generous than Lafite that overtakes after an hour in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, superb acidity, great depth but perhaps just missing the persistency and vigour of the Lafite. Great mineralite on the tobacco and autumn leaf-finish. (NM) (5/2011)

94 points Wine Spectator

Very smoky, with berry, coffee and tobacco aromas. Full-bodied, with polished velvety tannins, plenty of fruit and a cedary aftertaste. Tight and compacted. This is better than the 2000 Mouton. It's a baby 1986 Mouton. Solid and very, very fine. Persists for a long time on the palate. (JS) (3/2004)

91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Good full ruby. High-pitched aromas of blackberry, mint and minerals. Juicy but quite tightly wound today; much more austere than the comparatively pliant Clerc-Milon-not to mention firmer and less fleshy than it appeared from barrel a year ago. Juicy acidity contributes to the impression of structure. Unlike most 2001s, this seems already to have gone into a shell. This penetrating, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (86%) Mouton will need at least a decade of bottle aging. (ST) 91+ (6/2004)

Jancis Robinson

Very, very deep crimson. Very, very rich and full, and then very, very silky texture - a winning combination. Definite spice. Very full and ripe. Round, satin textured. Could do with very slightly more acid?! Quite a sudden end, but lots of work on texture rather than flavour. Very, very rich black fruits. Tannins are quite rigorous. Deeper, tougher and more dramatic than most. (JR) 18.5/20 points (4/2002)

K&L Notes

The 2001 Mouton features the artwork of American stage director Robert Wilson on the label. 94 points Neal Martin's Wine Journal, March 2011: "Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 10-Year On horizontal. This has another outstanding bouquet with notes of blackberry, wild hedgerow, graphite and a touch of orange peel. Great delineation and vigour, a little more generous than Lafite that overtakes after an hour in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, superb acidity, great depth but perhaps just missing the persistency and vigour of the Lafite. Great mineralite on the tobacco and autumn leaf-finish."