Chateau Mouton Rothschild | 1er Grand Cru Classe | OWC (6) 2005

PV Tasting Notes

96 Points Robert Parker The Wine Advocate April 2008
The 2005 Mouton Rothschild will have to take a back seat to the prodigious 2006, but administrator Philippe Dalhuin deserves considerable credit for pushing Mouton to higher quality levels over recent years. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot, the dark purple-hued 2005 exhibits a restrained but promising nose of cedar, tobacco leaf, creme de cassis, and toasty oak. Full-bodied, tannic, and extremely backward, with the vintage’s tell-tale acidity, it appears to be even more closed in the bottle than it was from barrel. It does possess a long finish and multilayered mouthfeel. This is an undeniably outstanding, yet restrained, shy wine for a Mouton Rothschild. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040+

Until 1730 Mouton was all part of Lafite, belonging to the Prince of Segur, prior to that it was owned by the Duke of Gloucester (1430), Jean Dunois and Gaston de Foix. For five generations now, since 1853 it has been in the hands of the Rothschild’s, and quality and reputation have continued to grow. Ranked with the second growths in 1855, this did not please the owners and was ranked first amongst the seconds. It was then the famous motto was placed on the label, Premier ne puis, second ne daigne, Mouton suis. Translated as “First I cannot be, second I do not deign to be, I am Mouton”.  In 1973 following pressure by the Rothschild’s, Mouton was reclassified to First Growth of Bordeaux.

In 1945 Baron Phippie de Rothschild commissioned artist Philippe Jullien to design the label which began the tradition of a new artist label every year, with the exceptions of 1953 and 1977. The estate is 82 hectares of which 77 hectares are planted to vine with 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the average age ofthe vines is 48 years. Average production is 300,000 bottles. Everything about Mouton Rothschild is good taste.