- CRITICAL REVIEWS
- WINEMAKER NOTES
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
2009 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, France
Climatic conditions
Nature was particularly kind in 2009, providing conditions that favoured the vegetation cycle and helped the grapes to reach full maturity. Winter was a little colder than usual, though, in the period to March, the region had 204 hours of sunshine more than the average for the last thirty years. April was very wet and May often stormy. Flowering took place rapidly and evenly around 5 June. Summer set in from mid-June, bringing remarkable levels of sunshine and little rainfall. The very fine weather and high level of hydric stress, barely alleviated by a few showers, enabled the grapes to ripen slowly to full maturity. Temperatures in August were 1.4° C higher than the average. The ideal weather continued into September as cool nights alternated with hot days. The weather encouraging the concentration of aromas and flavours and the accumulation of anthyocyans, brought the crop to harvest in perfect condition. Picking began with the Merlot on 23 September and ended with the Cabernet Sauvignon on 6 October. The grapes were extremely healthy, containing plenty of sugar, colour, and fruit and showing exceptional potential. 2009 will undoubtedly go down as a vintage to match the finest.
Harvest 23 September to 13 October
Varietal mix Cabernet Sauvignon 88% Merlot 12%
Tasting notes
The wine has a very deep, almost black colour with glittering highlights.
The stylish and complex nose offers a wide array of aromas, bilberry, blackcurrant, and blond tobacco mingling with subtle cedarwood and spice. The palate immediately shows all the wine's density and refinement: very forward ripe fruit flavours are perfectly integrated with patrician, well-rounded tannins, revealing remarkable structure and balance. The opulent and long finish confirms the very great success of this Mouton Rothchild, no effort having been spared to enable the wine to fully express the exceptional qualities of the 2009 vintage.