2025 Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac

The 2025 Mouton Rothschild was picked between September 5 and 20 and matured entirely in new oak. It contains the highest Cabernet Sauvignon ever, at 98%. This has a very pure and controlled bouquet, "cool" black fruit, a light estuarine influence (oyster shells shucked down on the beach in Arcachon?) that filter through the blackberry and cassis fruit. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins that feel a little more rounded and suppler than the 2025 Lafite Rothschild tasted just prior. There is a luxuriant aspect, the signature of Mouton Rothschild that differentiates it from the other First Growths, not plush but perhaps a little more flattering at this very early stage thanks to its patina of creaminess. In a sense, it is quintessential Mouton Rothschild and should age extremely well in bottle. 13.1% alcohol

Highest Cabernet Sauvignon on record (since 94% for the 2010 vintage), stately and reserved at first, then totally joyful. The right austerity, coupled with squid ink character and fabulous hidden depths that are going to take their time to fully unroll, with the incense of the oak coming through only after a good 10 minutes in the glass, you barely perceive it on the first tasting. What a beautiful Mouton, great stuff from wine director Jean-Philippe Danjoy. 52% Grand Vin, basically pure old vine Cabernet. And an interesting side note - in September there was no weekend picking, a clear indication that there was no stress about the harvest dates. 3.76pH. Harvest September 5 to 20. 100% new oak.

A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, the 2025 Mouton Rothschild is a dense, powerful wine, unwinding in the glass with aromas of crème de cassis, blueberries, espresso roast, cigar wrapper and violet. Full-bodied, deep and dense, it's rich, layered and concentrated, with prodigious mid-palate presence and a long, youthfully structured finish. Small berries in Cabernet Sauvignon, below one gram even in the older vines, explain this Mouton's remarkable intensity of flavor. The grand vin represents 52% of the production and checks in at 13.1% alcohol.

The 2025 Mouton Rothschild is dense and brooding. The 2025 is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, the most Cabernet ever in the Grand Vin, and that very much comes through in the wine's structure and overall presence. Graphite, lavender, rose petal and menthol build into the rich, heady finish. There's a ton of potential here.