The standout wine of the tasting (as expected). Opulent, concentrated with intense cassis notes on both the nose and palate, with a deep-purple hue in the glass (although not quite as deep as the 1995). Mint, cool, menthol on the nose with restrained oak hovering in the background. The palate is ultra-elegant with a freshness from the acidity and perfectly-ripe tannins, combined with subtle oak and intriguing spicy, cedary notes. A wine that is drinking beautifully now but still has one (or possibly two) decades to go. Harvested 27 September to 9 October. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc.

97+ The last time I tasted the 1996 Mouton Rothschild (maybe a couple of years ago?), I recall it was a bit broody and closed. This showing was anything but! Deep garnet in color, it sashays out of the glass with lavishly dressed, gregarious crème de cassis, baked blackberries and plum pudding scents plus touches of menthol, fenugreek, star anise and sandalwood with fleeting glimpses at dried rose petals and oolong tea. The full-bodied palate is richly fruited, opulent and oh-so seductive, with bags of youthful black fruit and lovely finely grained tannins, finishing with fantastic freshness and length. This was tasted from jeroboam in September 2019. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 1996 Château Mouton Rothschild is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 10% of Cabernet Franc. This beauty shows the fresh, clean, incredibly classic style of the vintage, offering vibrant dark fruits, spring flowers, tobacco, and coffee, and like many 1996s, there’s a wonderful, herbal freshness in the aromatics and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and focused on the palate, its tannins are nicely integrated, the balance is spot on, and this beauty is drinking incredibly well today. It should continue to evolve for another two decades.

Continuing to develop positively, the wine seems to have entered the start of its drinking window. The tannins softened and the wine has spread out on the palate, allowing to taste and feel the ripe, sweet, fresh currants, spice and blackberries, with its touch of herbs, cedar and leafy tobacco on the nose and palate. Drink from 2022-2045.

Incredible nose of ultraripe fruit it's yet subtle and complex. Full-bodied with very ripe almost sweet fruit and a long long caressing finish. Superb. This is edging out the 1995.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. -JS

This is an excellent Mouton-Rothschild that might warrant a higher score if it continues to improve. It has a “classic” Pauillac nose of graphite, pencil shavings and tobacco, later a whiff of a mahogany bureau in a stately home. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, quite austere tannins, but wonderful balance and the tension that the 2000 so badly needs. Very harmonious and youthful towards the finish. It actually reminds me of the 1986 in some ways. Superb.

The bottle I opened was fabulous on the nose with aromas of currants, cedar, sweet tobacco, incense, and flowers. It was full-bodied, with very fine silky tannins and similar flavors as the aromas. However, a slightly green undertone came thorough on the palate. It didn’t bother me, but the Italians seemed annoyed with it – even disappointed. Regardless, I scored the wine