2025, Château Mouton-Rothschild, PAUILLAC, 1er Grand Cru Classé

Mouton made some of the greatest red Bordeaux wines ever in the period after the end of the Second World War and was finally upgraded to first growth in 1973. Every year since the 1940s a different artist has decorated the label. This great first growth combines the strength and power of Latour with the polish and charm of Lafite and the unmistakable Mouton notes of cigar box, spice and cassis.

2025 blend is 98% cabernet sauvignon and 2% merlot.

A glamorous wine for the vintage, with mesmerising 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. 99-100 James Suckling.

Stately and reserved at first, then totally joyful. The right austerity 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. Basically pure old vine Cabernet. 100% new oak. 2036-2055. 98-100 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux.

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 flavour. 97-99 William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

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. 2035-2075 96-98 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.