(98-100 points) (Pauillac; 98.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.8% Merlot; a final yield of 30 hl/ha, the highest of the first growths; pH 3.76; 13.1% ABV; tasted at Mouton Rothschild with Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy). The 98.2% Cabernet Sauvignon is, of course, an historic record here and the 0.2% less Merlot had a significant bearing on the identity of the final wine, Jean-Emmanuel tells me. We have, perhaps unremarkably, Cabernet cedar and Cabernet graphite in abundance! This is truly fabulous and utterly divine. It's also strikingly intimate, though not really more closed aromatically, but certainly far less 'solaire' than Le Petit Mouton. It's more serious, more cool at the core (indeed, that sense of coolness seems to radiate outwards from the core), more classical and more mirrorpool in its clarity, with that slightly sombre and almost haunting character of the vintage. The entry ('attack' would be too strong a word) is incredibly beautiful and so gentle. Mouton builds ever so slowly in the mouth due to the softness of the extraction. This is wine of incredible clarity. It imparts the sensation of layered purity: fine sheets of silk interspersed with layers of cashmere, the tannins delineating each horizontally and pixelating each vertically. A supreme wine, opulent but never demonstrative, incredibly profound and complete. 98-100

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Fine precious wood spice, nuances of cassis and liquorice, delicate hints of nougat and orange zest, seductive bouquet. Complex, tightly meshed, fresh dark berry fruit, fine, silky, tannins, delicate blueberries, lively structure, mineral-salty finish, elegant and precise, shows length and assured ageing potential. (98% Cabernet Sauvignon)

(99-100 points) A glamorous wine for the vintage, with mesmerizing perfumes of flowers, al dente fruit and citrus flowers. Black currants with some mineral and stone undertones. Medium- to full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and an endless finish. The tannins lead you on a great trip. It is the most cabernet sauvignon ever used in the blend in recent memory. Balanced and structured. 98% cabernet sauvignon and 2% merlot.

(98-100 points) 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.

(97-100 points) Pure class on the nose, dried blackcurrant and, dark chocolate, crushed stone and wild lavender, several serious steps up from Le Petit Mouton, just tasted. The palate possesses this harmony, with currant, blackcurrant, black olive, slate and violets, with a rich wrapping of powdery tannins which pervade the entire palate while never distracting from the fruit, leading to a finely grained finish which has a just tear-jerking sense of harmony. This young barrel sample sends shivers down my spine. And the length, of course, is superb, with great tannic harmony and length. The grand vin from Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy and team has a blend of 98.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1.8% Merlot (the highest concentration of Cabernet ever in the grand vin here), the fruit from the more elevated parcels on the Plateau de Carruades, Plateau de Mouton and also a small parcel of more westerly vines, the map of the source of the fruit most closely resembling those from the 2022 and 2019 vintages. All in all, stunning. The alcohol is reported to be 13.1%. 97-100/100

(97-99 points) Deep purple-hued, the 2025 Château Mouton Rothschild is based on 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot that's resting in 100% new barrels. A blockbuster nose of crème de cassis, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and graphite gives way to a rich, powerful, yet focused and precise Mouton on the palate, with the signature texture this estate is known for, flawless balance, ripe, silky tannins, integrated acidity, and a gorgeous finish. It hit 13.1% alcohol with a pH of 3.76. It's unquestionably a beautiful Mouton in the making, and this château continues to fire on all cylinders.

(97-99 points) Smoke, cigar box, flowers, Indian spices, cassis, blackberries, espresso, licorice, forest leaves and mint fill the aromatic profile. But here, it is the palate that owns the night with its opulent, flamboyant, luscious, and vibrant personality. Even with all those showy characteristics, concentration, and intensity, the wine manages to feel light on its feet. By the time you have emptied your glass, the wine somehow gained weight, and the tannins turned to velvet, which is perfect to allow you to enjoy the seemingly, never ending finish. The keys to the vintage came from the combination of summer draught, paired with the rains arriving in late August at the perfect moment, helping to aid in the maturity in the grapes, which shaped the vintage characteristics. The wine consists of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, making this the highest percentage Cabernet Sauvignon ever used in the blend.13.1% ABV, 3.76 pH. 52% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. The harvest took place September 5 - September 20. Drink from 2032-2075. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2025&wine=Chateau%20Mouton%20Rothschild

(97-99 points) 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.

A fabulous Mouton with real personality and character and much more seductive than other wines from Pauillac this year. Dark fruit but cool, black cherries and berries with cola and mint touches. Juicy and upfront – immediately salivating in terms of fruit and acidity with gorgeous tannins, chalky, filling but soft not at all dry, fleshy but not too ripe. Intense, voluptuous, almost sensual and not at all austere despite the high percentage of Cabernet. One of the purest expression of what Cabernet can taste like on this site. Velvety, I just adore this for its frankness. Grippy, exciting, full of promise and energy. Wow. A potential 100-point wine.

(95-98+ points) Deep fruity nose with hints of redcurrants and a raw still tannic taste with notes of wood, green pepper and soil. There is however an overall river of juicy fruit flowing through this wine and even though it is not a deep and classic Mouton, the freshness and juiciness soaks through it. As with other 2025s it will be approachable earlier on. 98 % Cabernet Sauvignon was utilized – the highest percentage ever for Mouton.

(96-98 points) Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Mouton Rothschild prances out of the glass with showy notes of blackcurrant jelly, kirsch, and boysenberry preserves, plus nuances of lilacs, vanilla pod, crushed rocks, and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is bright and shimmery with firm, grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and earthy.

(96-98 points) The 2025 Mouton Rothschild is dense and brooding. Although naturally very, very young, all the elements are so well put together. 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. - Antonio Galloni