The 2011 Mouton-Rothschild is a Bordeaux Blend red wine produced by Mouton-Rothschild in the Pauillac region of Bordeaux, France. This vintage is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, representing the first time since 2005 that Cabernet Franc has been included in the mix. The grapes were harvested from September 12th to 28th, 2011, from Mouton's 75-hectare estate which features gravelly soils over a base of sand, clay, marl, and limestone.
The wine has received generally high praise from professional reviewers, highlighting its complexity and aging potential. Wine Spectator awarded it a score of 95 points, describing it as "tight, focused and very well-built" with a flavor profile that includes "dark currant, fig and blackberry fruit" along with "bramble, tobacco and loam accents." They noted that it "may never be a charmer," but emphasized its long-term aging potential, recommending it be enjoyed from 2021 through 2045.
John Sweeney from JJ Buckley rated it slightly higher with a score of 96, praising its "concentrated and intense bouquet" and "balanced palate with notes of vanilla, cassis, blackberry compote, plum, and cherry." He called it "an impressive seamless wine" with a "long fresh finish."
Wine Enthusiast also gave it a score of 95, noting a "lightness about this vintage" that lends the wine "poise and an attractive lift," while still being based on "solid tannins" and "layers of fruitiness and freshness." They suggest it will be "delicious" and recommend drinking it from 2020.
James Suckling scored the wine 94 points, calling it "full and tight with silky tannins and a long and fresh finish." He advised that it needs a few more years to open up, suggesting it will be better from 2018.
Vinous and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate both rated the wine at 92 points. Vinous's Neal Martin noted that it felt "surprisingly reduced on the nose" but found it to be "a very decent Pauillac" with "mocha, minty with touches of white pepper on the finish." Similarly, Martin for Wine Advocate described it as "probably the 'weakest' of the releases between 2008 and 2012," but still "perfectly respectable," highlighting its "graphite and cedar aromas" and "well balanced" palate.
Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider awarded it 93 points, noting its "cassis and gravel in the nose" and "fresh, sweet, round textured, blackberry and dark plum notes in the finish."
Decanter provided the highest score of 97, describing it as bringing together "the florality of Armailhac and the dense fruit of Clerc Milon, all with the volume turned up." They noted its "powerful Pauillac tannins and a juicy finish," calling it "easily one of the wines of the vintage in Pauillac."
Overall, the 2011 Mouton-Rothschild is a well-regarded wine with significant aging potential, noted for its complexity, balance, and the quality of its tannins and fruit flavors.