The 2020 Château Mouton Rothschild is a stunning wine with complex aromas of minty cassis, pencil shavings, cigar wrapper, and violets. It has a refined, medium to full body with precise tannins and a long, penetrating finish. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, it’s described as a “new classicism” and a modern take on the 1986 vintage. It earned RP 100, JS 100, and D 100, with aging potential from 2030 onwards. The label was designed by Peter Doig.

The Wine Advocate | RP 100
Published: Apr 06, 2023
Drink: 2030-2070

The 2020 Mouton Rothschild is a striking wine and one that I regretted not purchasing en primeur as soon as it landed in my glass. Offering up complex aromas of minty cassis, pencil shavings, loamy soil, cigar wrapper, espresso roast and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, broad and layered, with terrific concentrated, beautifully refined tannins and a long, penetrating finish. Checking in at 12.8% alcohol, its incipient complexity, ineffable sense of completeness and exquisite balance mark it out as the purists' choice among the trio of 2018, 2019 and 2020. In this vintage, the lots that made it into the blend were largely confined to the core gravel terroirs that represent Mouton's heart, meaning that there's a little less to go around. This was the first vintage overseen by Mouton's new technical director, Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, and he has begun with a flying start. 

JamesSuckling.com | JS 100
Published: May 14, 2023

The purity of blackcurrants, blueberries, creme de cassis, and flowers. Hints of subtle spearmint. Iron. Blood orange. Medium-bodied with a compacted palate, like a cylinder of perfectly ripe fruit and fine tannins. A million layers of tight-grained tannins. It goes on and on. Such freshness and weightlessness to it. Ethereal. New classicism. Modern take on the 1986. 12.79% alcohol. 84% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Drink after 2030 but hard to not drink now.

Decanter | D 100
Published: Jan 3, 2023
Drink: 2029-2050

Dark fruits on the nose, blackcurrants and cherries with savoury nuances of dark chocolate and tobacco. Fresh and forward on the palate, this hits you square on, still very lean and direct, almost piercing and severe in its intensity and drive, though wonderfully precise: it’s like an arrow. Serious and focussed yet full and layered, the texture is lovely, a slight graininess that lingers but it’s the acidity and the fruit purity that are so excellent - they give such a sense of vibrancy and make this wine so thrilling. You get a feeling of pent-up energy, but after a few minutes the slight density of the ripe fruit comes through, giving some plushness and weight. I love the Cabernet details and the mineral element that leaves the mouth cool and fresh. A well constructed, subtle beauty.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 13.10%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon 13% Merlot 1% Petit Verdot

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 18++
Published: Feb 15, 2024
Drink: 2035-2050

Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Lifted dark and dark-red fruits but also lots of sweet oak spice. Very oaky, very smooth, luscious and long. So rich. Chewy, massive, dense.

Chateau-mouton-rothschild.com

2020 Tasting Notes
The wine is a deep, dark, garnet-hued cherry red.
The refined and complex nose opens on remarkably ripe black fruit, going on with airing to reveal aromas of blackcurrant and aniseed combined with touches of flint and a subtle hint of cigar box.
From a smooth yet full-bodied attack, the palate displays highly precise tannins which strike a harmonious balance with the refinement of minty and smoky notes.
Displaying mineral and black berry fruit notes, the complete and exceptionally long finish expresses all the nobility of Château Mouton Rothschild Cabernet Sauvignon.

Illustration of the label: Peter Doig (1959-)