The 2018 Mouton-Rothschild is a Bordeaux blend primarily composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and a small amount of Cabernet Franc. This wine hails from the Pauillac sub-region of Bordeaux, France. Renowned for its depth, structure, and longevity, it has garnered exceptional reviews from critics.
James Suckling awarded it a perfect score of 100, praising its "exquisite purity of black currants, raspberries and some citrus," describing it as "full-bodied with seamless tannins" and an "endless finish." He likens it to the legendary 1959 vintage and recommends drinking after 2026.
Wine Enthusiast also rated it 99 points, emphasizing its "dense structure, powerful tannins and intense black fruits," and predicting that it will "age magnificently." Roger Voss advises against opening a bottle before 2029.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, who also gave it 99 points, notes its "bright, vivacious notes of crushed blackcurrants, juicy blackberries and redcurrant jelly," and describes it as "built like a brick house with super firm, super ripe, grainy tannins." Despite its current approachability, she suggests it will continue to develop over the next 25 years or more.
Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider, another reviewer who granted it a perfect score, highlights its "dark red ink color" and complex aromas of "Asian spice, espresso, smoke, cigar box, walnuts, cocoa, blackberry and red currant." He finds it to be a "better version of 2009" with more concentration and silkier tannins.
Decanter also gave it a perfect score, calling it a "big, textured and complex wine" with layers of blackberry, liquorice, baked earth, and exotic spices. Jane Anson considers it "one of the all-time great Moutons," filled with "beautiful fruits" and "velvety but determined" tannins.
Other reviewers such as Jeb Dunnuck (97 points), Vinous (97 points), Wine Spectator (98 points), and The Wine Independent (98 points) also echo high praise for this vintage, noting its vibrant fruit, seamless structure, and potential for long-term aging.
Overall, the 2018 Mouton-Rothschild is a powerhouse wine with remarkable depth, complexity, and aging potential, consistently receiving top-tier reviews from critics worldwide.