2009 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (Pre-Arrival)

The 2009 Château Mouton Rothschild is an absolutely brilliant wine that displays incredible class and sophistication. It is slow to unwind in the glass, but when it does the breathtaking aromas all begin to take shape. It begins with beautiful ripe black cherries and blackberries which are woven together with dried exotic spices, florals, tobacco, scorched earth and crushed stones all taking shape in the glass. On the palate this classy wine has it all, balanced, structured and complex, with remarkable precision and focus. It's beautifully focused with gorgeous underlying acidity keeping it fresh and inviting leading up to the the long, polished finish. All being said, this is an utterly fascinating and impeccably made wine, which without question should age gracefully for decades. Composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. (JD) (9/2022)

Pure perfection, and reminding me slightly of the 1982, the 2009 Château Mouton Rothschild boasts an opaque ruby hue as well as an incredibly perfumed, sexy, seductive style in its ripe currant and cassis fruits as well as new saddle leather, spicy oak, smoke tobacco, and graphite-driven aromas and flavors. Complex, full-bodied, and beautifully concentrated, with sweet tannins, this masterpiece is already impossible to resist yet won't hit full maturity for another decade and will evolve for 50-60 years if well stored. (5/2023)

Interesting to taste this vintage alongside the 2015, as the two have much in common - both generous, opulent and seductive, with tannins that are abundant but deceptively supple. Signature Mouton, muscular architecture, delivering cocoa bean, cedar, crème de cassis, fresh mint, liquorice, crayon, orange zest and pomegranate, celebrating a still-youthful expression of the juicy blackberry and cassis fruits, and a testatement to this exceptional vintage. This was drunk over dinner, and certainly tasted wonderful, but it has decades ahead of it, and will just keep on getting better. 100% new oak, Philippe Dhalluin director. (6/2023)

Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Mouton Rothschild gives up bold earthy notions of underbrush, tilled soil and fungi over a core of crème de cassis, plum preserves and Indian spices with a waft of camphor. Full-bodied with a firm, velvety tannin texture and packed with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, it has seamless freshness and a very long, decadently fruited finish. (LPB) (3/2019)

The texture is the most striking thing on this wine, right from the attack. It rolls out a carpet of silk and welcomes you in, and displays the gourmet edge that Mouton does so expertly, with blackberry, black cherry, crushed blueberries and garrigue. It has a softness that makes it not necessarily signature Pauillac, but certainly signature Mouton, with the ripeness of the fruit tempered by firm, brushed tannins and a core of controlled acidity. Crushed mint leaves appear on the finish. Multi-layered and brilliant. (JA) (2/2019)

With a ton of ripe blackcurrant and some bitter chocolate this is a rich and rather opulent wine that still retains a delightful freshness and has a long, positively dry finish. (2/2019)

The 2009 Mouton Rothschild is exceptionally beautiful. A huge, powerful wine, the 2009 possesses stunning richness and radiance, with plenty of underlying structure to support all of that exuberance. Smoke, grilled herbs, tobacco and incense give the 2009 much of its exotic, captivating personality. Seamless, opulent, yet with terrific freshness, the 2009 is sure to thrill those fortunate to own it for several decades. In a word: dazzling. The blend is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. Harvest took place between September 23 and October 6 in a year marked with dry weather, higher than average temperatures and generous sunshine. (AG) 98+ (5/2016)

This will always be a great contrast to the dark power of the 2010, sporting lush layers of fig, boysenberry and blackberry confiture, carried by velvety tannins, flowing through a long, anise-, tobacco- and cocoa-fueled finish. Not shy on grip, but much rounder and plusher in feel. Hard to resist now, but there's absolutely no rush. (JM) (3/2017)

Opaque, almost impenetrable purple-ruby. Closed nose hints at ripe dark plum, cassis, violet, coffee, minerals and ink. Opulent flavors of blackcurrant, minerals and herbs are pure and clean, with harmonious acidity lifting and extending them on the very long, rich, suave finish. This wine has improved considerably since the Primeurs. In fact, this is even more true of the 2010, which makes me think that Mouton may now require extra patience and leeway when it's tasted during the spring following the harvest. Another stellar wine for this property. (ST) 97+ (7/2012)

Superb openness and opulence on the nose, with black cherry, violet, liquorice, bitter chocolate and fine-grained tannins. Long finish still driven by fruit, and there is surely much more development in store. 18/20 points (RH) (1/2020)

97 points Neal Martin for Vinous: "The 2009 Mouton-Rothschild has a very backward bouquet that is clearly nowhere near its drinking plateau, unfolding reluctantly with cedar and pencil box infused black fruit. Glimpses of pressed rose petal unfurl with continued aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a mixture of red and black fruit, and veins of blue. Very harmonious with a satin-like texture towards the persistent finish. Philippe Dhalluin conjured a gorgeous Mouton-Rothschild this year, but it needs another few years in the cellar." (03/2019)