The Bordeaux First Growths: Latour, Lafite, Mouton , Margaux, and Haut Brion…
Vintages available from 2000 - 2012 of the famous
five first growth Bordeauxs!
When it comes to the world of fine wine, few names carry the weight and prestige of Bordeaux's First Growths. These estates—Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux, Haut-Brion, and Latour—have consistently produced wines that are the epitome of elegance, complexity, and longevity. Lamont’s now has a small quantity of these most extraordinary vintages from these iconic producers, perfectly cellared and with many drawing the perfect 100 points score from expert critics… which we have put together alongside the full reviews to highlight what makes each bottle a masterpiece.
These legendary vintages from Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux, Haut-Brion, and Latour although they are just wines; to us they are more… they are testaments to the enduring legacy of Bordeaux's First Growths. Each bottle tells a story of the land, the people, and the unique conditions that shaped it, offering a glimpse into the artistry and dedication that goes into crafting these exceptional wines.
Lamont’s Cottesloe has a small quantity of these incredible vintages available now, see below for more information!
First Growth Bordeaux Order Form
Wine Critic Point Table - First Growth Bordeaux
The full wine critic reviews and points are below on each of the wines listed.
As these wines are not available on the online store please use the order form on this page or contact us in store by phone or email!
Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
2004 Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
96 points Wine & Spirits
"Open the bottle and you'll find harmony in the glass, but the wine remains subtle, stony and mute, as if the flavors lie behind a closed door. Over the course of several days, that door begins to open, the stoniness transforms into sleek fruit, as if to mirror the complexity of the multicolored pebbles that sustain Haut-Brion's vines, a range of flavors from red to purple to black. The structure grows increasingly substantial, while the harmony remains, lending the wine mysterious power. Twenty years from now, this will just begin to reach a plateau and should sustain itself long after." — October 2007
96 points Wine Enthusiast
"Of the pair of châteaux, La Mission Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion (both owned by the Dillon banking family) that face each other across the crowded streets of Pessac, Haut-Brion is the one with the structure, the darkness, the brooding character. This is so true of 2004, with its hugely firm structure underlying the initial supple fruit. At the end, the acidity is an enticing surprise, lifting the aftertaste." — RV, June 2007
95 points Wine Spectator
"Wonderful aromas of dried flowers, currant, berries and mineral. Full-bodied, yet reserved and refined. Lovely texture, with a pure silk feel. Seamless and beautiful. Great length. Even better than from barrel." — JS, March 2007
93 points Wine Advocate
"It has been a few years since I last tasted the 2004 Haut-Brion. Now at 12 years of age, it retains its deep color. The bouquet is 'pleasant' if not as complex as the 2004 Latour, yet it's possibly just biding its time as it gradually opens with black fruit, black olive, even a touch of mint that might dupe you into thinking Pauillac. The palate is medium-bodied and very harmonious, almost caressing thanks to the Merlot lending that velvety texture. The second half changes tack, the Cabernet nudging the Merlot off the stage and delivering a more structured, possibly foursquare finish that is linear and correct." — NM, February 2017
2006 Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
96 points Jane Anson
"Less obvious than La Mission, this is more about charcoal, grilled berries and crisp minerality, with a near-perfect tightrope of freshness. Gripping and full of uplift, it starts slowly, builds in volume, but remains subtle and restrained. There’s no excess here; everything is in balance." — JA, September 2023
96 points Wine Advocate
"The 2006 Château Haut-Brion has a more ostentatious bouquet than the comparatively reserved La Mission: quite feisty blackberry, briary, kirsch and red plum scents, hints of leather and sage tucked just underneath. This is a bouquet determined to make an impression! The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, well-judged acidity, a gentle build to a concentrated, earthy, truffle-tinged finish that lingers long in the mouth. This seems to have the upper-hand over the La Mission and probably has a longer future. A thoroughbred from Jean-Philippe Delmas and his team." — NM, May 2016
96 points Wine Enthusiast
"A severe, austere wine that doesn't show its richness easily. The tannins are tight and firm and they dominate. Underneath is ripe fruit, the balance with tannins giving a foursquare, solid character. The wine is complex, spice playing with the fruit, some medicinal flavors and a definite stalky, tight structure. It obviously needs long-term aging." — RV, March 2009
Best of 2009, Cellar Selection
95 points Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2006 Haut Brion is a classic, elegant version of this cuvee, and while approachable, it is still young and relatively unevolved. Textbook Graves notes of smoky tobacco, cigar, leafy herbs, lots of earthy minerality, and a deep core of black fruits all emerge from this beauty. With medium to full-bodied richness and impressive mid-palate depth, it has fine, present tannin, impeccable balance, and a great finish." — February 2018
95 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Medium ruby-red. Inviting aromas of plum, warm stones, red licorice and menthol. Suave, gentle and elegantly styled; distinctly sweeter and lusher today than the La Mission, with even more mid-palate depth. Showing more red fruits today as well, with pungent minerality giving the wine lift and juiciness. Finishes with suave but substantial building tannins." — ST, June 2009
94 points Decanter
"Takes a while to open up and show its potential, but all's well that ends well. There is a medium-deep colour and a slightly astringent bite on the initial attack. The first aromas are high-toned red fruit: cranberry, pomegranate and currant with a peppery spice. The texture is tannic, firm and seems a bit mean initially, but it softens charmingly with time in the glass and eventually opens up to show notes of ground coffee and smoke on the finish." — CC, July 2023
2007 Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
98 points Wine Enthusiast
"The palate opens slowly, offering an initial citrus character, followed by wood and then, finally, wonderfully rich, but taut fruit. There is still a toast character here, with apricots and pear on top of the citrus, but it is still only just developing. In 10–15 years, it will be a magnificent wine." — RV, December 2010
Cellar Selection
94 points Wine Advocate
"Tasted at BI Wine & Spirits' 10-Years-On tasting, the 2007 Haut Brion has a perfumed bouquet with abundant red fruit, sage, sandalwood, and black olive scents that just seem to soar from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, beautifully judged acidity and a gentle build in the mouth towards the savory/meaty finish. There is class interwoven into this Haut Brion from start to finish, and the persistence is very impressive. This is just reaching its drinking plateau." — NM, June 2017
94 points Vinous
"Bright ruby-red. Pure but youthfully inexpressive nose hints at raspberry and tobacco after extended aeration. Sweet, suave and pliant, with a silky texture perked up by minerality and lifted by a spicy component. Really lovely consistent ripeness here, showing neither roasted nor green qualities. Took on a more floral character with air. This superbly elegant wine really saturates the palate and lingers. Tannins are fine and sweet." — ST, July 2010
2008 Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
97 points Decanter
"For me, Haut-Brion stands a few notches above La Mission in this vintage. It's a wine which is almost impossible to spit forwards rather than backwards! The entire palate climbs upwards, with a mineral kick and slatey walls. This is the most complex wine that I have tasted so far, showing layers of cassis, rosemary, and freshly picked mint - utterly gorgeous, and another wine of the vintage contender." — JA, December 2017
Drinking Window 2020-2038
96 points Wine Advocate
"This is profound! 2008 Haut-Brion: The extraordinary 2008 Haut-Brion is a candidate for wine of the vintage. Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, it reveals more evolution and complexity in its large-scaled perfume. The dense purple color is followed by a sweet nose of creosote, asphalt, blueberries, black currants, and jammy raspberries, sweet tannins, a savory, fleshy mouthfeel, and a stunning finish. This incredibly pure, noble wine was produced from one of the estate's smallest crops. It should drink well for three decades or more." — RP, May 2011
96 points Wine Enthusiast
"Dark, dusty, hugely structured, Haut-Brion is a complex, serious wine with grandeur. The wine has considerable weight, its tannins striated through the black plum and damson skin fruits. For long-term aging." — RV, April 2011
95 points Vinous
"The 2008 Haut Brion has a very perfumed and floral bouquet: ebullient raspberry coulis and crushed strawberry fruit, sage and a hint of black olive. It just builds momentum in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. It feels a little grainy in texture, centered upon gravelly black fruit laced with black olive and smoke. It felt more austere than I expected, the finish reserved and somehow 'contained' and yet the aftertaste is extraordinarily long. Avoid opening bottles for now because this was always one of the standout wines of the vintage, but at 10 years old it might be going through a dumb phase." — NM, February 2018
2008 La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
96 points Vinous
"The 2008 La Mission Haut-Brion has an open, feisty, lively bouquet with blackberry, briary, cedar, black olive, and a light seaweed (Japanese nori) aroma. This is wonderful, an intoxicating bouquet. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, very focused with good weight and structure. This is a very convincing showing, at the moment more pleasurable than the 2008 Haut-Brion, just so fresh and complex, offering a discrete tertiary, smoke-tinged finish that goes on and on. One of the best 2008s out there." — NM, February 2018
95 points Jeb Dunnuck
"A beautiful, high-class effort that offers incredible pleasure, the 2008 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc brought up in a mix of new and used barrels. Ripe black cherries, sweet currants, cigar tobacco, and exotic spices all emerge from this medium to full-bodied effort that has beautiful concentration, sweet tannins, and again, a pleasure-bent, even sexy character that’s a joy to drink. It’s capable of lasting another 30 years or more." — February 2019
95 points Wine Advocate
"Like a lot of wines in this underrated vintage, the 2008 La Mission was one of the great bargains of recent vintages. Its healthy blue/purple color is followed by aromas of blueberries, black raspberries, licorice, truffles, underbrush, and forest floor. The scorched earthy/smoky character of this estate’s terroir has not yet emerged. Medium to full-bodied and concentrated with good acidity, freshness, and delineation, this is a big wine for the vintage, but also very classic in its balance of tannin, acidity, and extract. It will benefit from another 5-7 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades." — RP, August 2012
95 points Wine Enthusiast
"Dark and concentrated, this is a powerhouse of flavors and dense tannins. It’s a wonderful combination of velvet texture and dry structure. Layered, complex, wood and spice already showing signs of integration, but certainly set for the long haul." — RV, April 2011
94 points Decanter
"Elegant and fresh, with beautiful crushed raspberry fruits - proof that 2008 is a vintage where terroir wins out. This all happens on the retro-olfaction: there you are thinking it's a little under-perfumed for a Mission, but then it kicks back with a smoky swirl through the palate and the aromatics take hold. It's very good, showing savoury black fruits on the finish and the gentlest hint of cigar box and cedar oak." — JA, December 2017
Chateau Latour
2002 Latour, Pauillac
96 points Wine Advocate
"The wine of the vintage? There are only 10,000 cases of this extraordinarily rich, dense 2002 that is as powerful as the 2003 (even the alcohol levels are nearly the same, 12.85%). It is dark ruby/purple to the rim, with notes of English walnuts, crushed rocks, black currants, and forest floor, dense, full-bodied, and opulent, yet classic with spectacular aromatics, marvelous purity, and a full-bodied finish that lasts just over 50+ seconds. Huge richness and the sweetness of the tannin are somewhat deceptive as this wine seems set for a long life. Administrator Frederic Engerer seems to be more pleased with what Latour achieved in 2002 than in any other recent vintage. Hats off to him for an extraordinary accomplishment in a vintage that wouldn’t have been expected to produce the raw materials to achieve something at this level of quality." — RP, April 2005
96 points Vinous
"One of the most pleasant surprises in this tasting, the 2002 Latour is just beginning to show the full breadth of its aromatic complexity, but it also has more than enough depth to drink well for several decades. Tar, graphite, incense, and smoke open up in the glass in a Latour that leans towards the more delicate, feminine side of things. Silky tannins add polish and creaminess through to the finish. The 2002 is surprisingly delicious today for a young Latour, but it also has the pedigree and density to age nicely for decades." — AG, July 2016
96 points Wine Spectator
"Loads of ripe currants, licorice, and toasted oak on the nose. Subtle yet impressive. Full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe fruit and chewy tannins. Big and juicy. Deep midpalate for a 2002. This is the wine of the vintage. A solid, classic Latour that needs bottle age." — JS, March 2005
Top 100 of 2005, Collectible
94 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Red-ruby. Blackcurrant, graphite, and minerals on the nose. Sweet, fleshy, and dense, with an impeccable sugar/acid balance. Strong mineral tones and firm acids. Finishes long and gripping, with excellent tannic spine and lift. A bit like the 2002 Les Forts de Latour but turned up a notch or two." — ST, June 2005
2003 Latour, Pauillac
100 points James Suckling
"A very flamboyant and exciting Latour. Sliced black truffles, sweet leather, spices, and dark fruits on the nose. Full and powerful, with roasted fruit and leather undertones. Big and velvety, with polished, almost dusty tannins, and a super long finish. This leans more towards sexy than intellectual. Very concentrated." — February 2011
100 points Wine Advocate
"2003 was one of the hottest, earliest Bordeaux vintages ever. Some vines suffered from lack of moisture, but old vines and clay subsoil at Enclos saw this vineyard through. The Merlot harvest occurred between September 8 and 13, and the Cabernet Sauvignon was picked between September 22 and 30. The 2003 Latour is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Six percent of the press wine was added to the final blend. It has a medium to deep garnet-purple color, then wow—it explodes from the glass with bombastic black and blue fruits, followed up by meat, wood smoke, sandalwood, and Indian spice accents with underlying floral wafts. The palate is full, rich, velvety, seductive, and very long on the finish." — LPB, February 2019
98 points Wine Spectator
"Intense aromas of blackberry, licorice, currant, and mineral. Full-bodied, with very well-integrated tannins and a long, long finish. Very refined and beautiful. Goes on for minutes. This reminds me of the fabulous 1996. But even better." — JS, March 2006
96-98 points Wine Enthusiast
"What makes a great Latour is a sense of completeness, of restrained power and of levels of complexity that the other first growths rarely achieve. That's why Latour 2003 is a great wine." — RV, June 2004
97 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Red-ruby. Explosive aromas of plum liqueur, currant, minerals, and lead pencil. Huge, lush, sweet, and utterly seamless; this has the palate-caressing texture of liquid velvet. About as deep as this extreme vintage gets. Finishes with noble, compellingly sweet tannins and great length. This is an amazing wine, and only its exotic character prevented me from giving it an even higher score." — ST, June 2006
97 points Vinous
"The 2003 Latour remains a redoubtable First Growth and a testament to its terroir that manifested such a great wine in a challenging growing season. You could argue that it does not disguise the heat of that notorious summer as deftly as the 2003 Montrose since there is still a touch more volatility here than other vintages. But there are gorgeous notes of black cherry, black truffle, cedar, and a touch of cooked meat. The palate is full-bodied with saturated tannin. The acidity is very finely tuned considering the season, and there is plenty of glycerine towards the sumptuous finish. Maybe it is more a great 2003 than a great Latour, but there are few recent vintages that are so delicious." — NM, February 2018
Jancis Robinson
"Magisterial! Immediately profound on the nose, delivering rock-solid classic Bordeaux. So lengthy, so refined. A rich tapestry of flavors from the darkest fruits to the most lifted fragrance. And so lengthy! Truly worth the accolades, and who knew 2003 would turn out so well?" — 19/20 points, RH, March 2022
2004 Latour, Pauillac
97 points Wine Enthusiast
"There are tannins, structure, and power, but also supreme elegance. The 2004 acidity comes through in the sweet cassis flavors, supported at the back by dry tannins. Currently, the wine is closed up, losing some of its fresh fruit, but this is a moment in its slow evolution towards a classic Latour." — RV, June 2007
95 points Wine Advocate
"A terrific effort from Administrator Frederic Engerer and owner Francois Pinault, the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Latour exhibits a strong cassis character intermixed with notes of crushed rocks, earth, cedar, and forest floor. It is a very impressive offering." — RP, June 2007
95 points Wine Spectator
"Captivating aromas of currant, black licorice, and spices, with just a hint of sweet tobacco. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Structured and racy." — JS, March 2007
Collectibles
94 points Decanter
"This wine proved me wrong about the 2004 vintage – it is utterly delicious, with an incredibly forward and silky, bright red fruit aroma on the initial attack. Picking began on 23rd September and continued into the second week of October, giving an elegant, fresh wine." — CC, February 2022
94 points Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2004 Latour checks in as a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and a splash of Cabernet Franc, all aged in new French oak. It shows the more elegant, silky style of the vintage, yet with plenty of Latour grandeur and depth in its ripe cassis, smoky mineral, graphite, and saddle leather aromas and flavors. It’s medium to full-bodied, impressively concentrated, and has serious length, as well as another two decades of longevity, although it’s certainly drinking beautifully today." — February 2018
94 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Bright ruby-red. Classic aromas of currant, plum, graphite, and minerals. Suave and smooth in the mouth, with a compelling sweetness and lushness for the vintage. At once easygoing and wonderfully complex, conveying a powerful soil character. The finish is ripely tannic, sweet, and very long. This is wonderfully expressive today, but the young 2006 may have even longer aging potential. Along with Château Margaux, my candidate for wine of the vintage." — ST, June 2007
2005 Latour, Pauillac
100 points James Suckling
"A very complex nose of lavender, currants, spices, and hot stones. Full and dense on the palate, with a very tight structure. The tannins have a perfect polish to their density, and the finish is very intense, with wonderful fruit and truffle character. This turns almost decadent, with tremendous energy and a constantly changing profile." — February 2011
100 points Wine & Spirits
"How rare to confront a wine of this inner strength and perfect form. Grown at a 116-acre vineyard at the southern border of Pauillac, some of the vines now reaching 100 years of age on a gravel bar overlooking the Gironde, Latour harvests Cabernet Sauvignon with natural power. I could describe it as colors, from glistening ruby to purple-black then back to scarlet tannins that vibrate in red. Or just the pure, unadulterated flavor of black currant, unformed as a child is unformed, beautiful as a child is beautiful. However, I might describe it, the wine is stronger than I am and will outlast me by decades. This is the most provocative and most brilliant Latour I have tasted on release." — October 2008
100 points Wine Enthusiast
"Cellar Selection A great wine, the summation of a great vintage in Bordeaux. The core of richness, the dense, bone-dry tannins, the black currants, red berries, and black plum skins are the elements, but it’s the way they have been integrated that makes this such an impressive wine. There is great elegance as well, a fabulous counterpoint to such power. Cellar for at least 15 years, but this will keep forever." — June 2008
98 points Wine Advocate
"The 2005 Latour (87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot) is a spectacular effort from Château Latour. It has an inky plum/purple color and a gorgeous nose of graphite, crème de cassis, and floral notes with some forest floor in the background. It is full-bodied, super-concentrated, and for my taste, probably one of the two or three most intense, rich, and complex wines of the entire Médoc. The wine has great texture, purity, and a finish of close to 40 or 45 seconds. The tannins are surprisingly sweet, even in this large-scaled, masculine wine. Drink it over the next 50+ years." — RP, June 2015
98 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Deep ruby-red. Reticent, brooding aromas of cassis, black plum, graphite, and flowers. Then utterly explosive in the mouth, with wonderful sappy complexity of flavor and a thickness of texture that builds and builds toward the back; almost no sign of the new oak here. Offers a near-magical combination of power and refinement, but this extremely primary wine is still an infant. Finishes with extraordinary persistence that leaves the palate vibrating. One of the greatest young Bordeaux I've tasted in recent years, and more complete and classic than the outrageously lush 2003. For his part, Engerer feels that this wine combines the best traits of the 2003 and 2000 Latours. I made the mistake of retasting the 2007 after trying this, and the tannins of the younger wine came off as dry by comparison." — ST, June 2008
2006 Latour, Pauillac
96 points Jeb Dunnuck
"As to the Grand Vin, the 2006 Latour showed beautifully. A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance mostly Merlot, with a splash of Cabernet Franc, it offers a deep ruby/purple color to go with straight up classic Latour graphite, lead pencil and minerality all balanced by terrific cassis and blackcurrant fruit. With medium to full-bodied richness, present, yet silky tannin, impeccable balance, and a great finish, it’s terrific today and I suspect on the early edge of a long drinking plateau." — April 2018
96 points James Suckling
"Dense and rich Latour with layered and velvety tannins and gorgeous fruit. At the same time, there’s lots of wood. Coffee flavor, too. Full-bodied, layered, and structured. Needs more time to soften the tannins." — April 2018
96 points Wine Enthusiast
"Latour has always had the reputation of producing great wines in the less great vintages. The 2006 is a case in point. It brings structure and ripeness into a form that is almost ethereal. That elegance doesn’t take away from the powerful fruit. The fruit in fact melds into the structure with ease. And, as a reminder this is a 2006, the density gives way to freshness on the finish." — RV, March 2009
95 points Decanter
"Soft and lush, this perhaps shows a hint of dilution from harvest rains. The texture is firm and dense without being forbidding. It is less angular than the 2007 vintage on the palate, but there is a similar length and weight here. The result has a ripe currant and plum fruit with a bit of leather, spice, and just a suggestion of violets. The harvest began with the Merlot on 19th September and the Cabernets on 9th October. The final blend is over 91% Cabernet, and here Latour has used a splash of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, with Merlot making up the balance." — CC, April 2022
95 points Wine Advocate
"Not an outstanding vintage overall for Bordeaux, 2006 had the potential to be very good. Things got off to a pretty impressive start in Pauillac this year, and then it all went a bit pear-shaped toward the end with a cool, rainy August and late September. Vineyard diligence and a take-no-prisoners attitude on the sorting table were the keys to relative success here. While it is clear Latour had their work cut out for them with this 2006 release, they managed to produce an incredibly impressive grand vin, which is drinking beautifully now yet should cellar gracefully over the next 20+ years. It has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and lovely open nose with florals and red fruit aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, and minerally with a compelling iron ore character and great length." — LPB, February 2019
95 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Bright full ruby. Slightly stern aromas of cassis, graphite, licorice, incense, and flowers. Then dense and penetrating, with terrific energy to the subtle dark fruit, licorice, and mineral flavors. There's a coolness to the fruit that makes this wine dramatically different from the Forts de Latour. Finishes with big, building tannins and a powerful sense of structure. A fairly large-scaled Latour but not particularly sweet in the early going. In fact, this went into a shell with 24 hours in the recorked bottle." — ST, June 2009
2007 Latour, Pauillac
95 points Wine Enthusiast
"A big and powerful wine, with tannins that are compact and dense. The dryness of the tannins goes right to the core, surrounded by chocolate, sweet fruit, and dark berry flavors. The wine is well structured, big and bold, with plenty of firmness promising aging." — April 2010
92 points Wine Advocate
"The 2007 Latour is the most recent late-release from the First Growth estate that abandoned en primeur after the 2011 vintage. Incidentally, this was the first vintage that Frédéric Engerer made with cellar technical director, Hélène Génin. 'It was not an easy wine when it was young,' he remarked when pouring the wine. Nevertheless, as it approaches ten years of age, the 2007 is finally entering its drinking plateau. It has a deep, quite lucid, dark garnet color. The nose is fresh and well defined. What I appreciate here is the focus, since 2007 was never a vintage to bestow power or immense complexity. Here, you wallow in lovely aromas of blackberry, bilberry, and briary with that hint of black olive that I noticed four years ago when I last tasted it. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. It feels attractively saline, fresh, and crisp, though not angular. Again, it is the focus and detail that enhances this vibrant Château Latour and its keen line of acidity lends it the freshness to become just about drinkable. The length is moderate, rather than extraordinarily long, though its pencil lead finish takes you straight to Pauillac thereby enhancing typicité. This is a fine Latour from an underrated vintage." — NM, August 2016
92 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Good bright ruby-red. Rather backward nose hints at cassis, black cherry, shoe polish, graphite, minerals, and spices. Sweet, broad, and rich, but with enticing fresh minerality giving energy to the rather full-bodied middle palate. The wine's cassis fruit is complicated by an almost decadent floral element. Finishes perfumed and very long, with wonderfully lush, supple, fine-grained tannins." — ST, August 2010
90 points Wine Spectator
"Offers floral and berry notes, with currant and licorice. Full-bodied, with a sweet core of fruit. There's silky tannins and a fresh, fruity finish. Reserved and balanced." — JS, March 2010
Jancis Robinson
"Dense and round. Thick and only slightly furry. Dry finish. Needs lots of time. Impressive finish though." — 18/20 points, April 2008
Chateau Margaux
2002 Margaux, Margaux
93 points Wine Advocate
"Performing better from bottle than at any time in cask (which of course is the objective of great winemaking, isn’t it?), this wine reveals a dense ruby/purple color in a style somewhat reminiscent of the 1988 but with more power, concentration, and volume. It has a beautifully elegant nose of black fruits intermixed with truffle, flower, and oak. The wine is medium to full-bodied, dense, with wonderful precision, freshness, and a long, full-bodied finish with impressive levels of concentration." — RP, April 2005
92 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Bright, deep red. Classic aromas of boysenberry, black cherry, minerals, and lead pencil. Then juicy and penetrating, with cabernet-dominated berry and mineral flavors (there's a very low 8% merlot in the blend). Finishes with very firm, youthfully tough tannins that will require a good decade of patience. Quite tight today and difficult to assess. 'We had a gorgeous September, but it came too late for the merlot,' said Pontallier." — ST, May 2005
92 points Wine Spectator
"This has hit its stride fully now, with a lightly mulled edge to the core of plum and blackberry fruit, while dark tea and singed iron notes fill in through the finish. Lovely and lingering dark perfume and charcoal hints gild the finish." — JM, Web-2014
2004 Margaux, Margaux
96 points Decanter
"An evocative nose with perfumed aromas jumping out of the glass. This balances intensity with freshness, giving sour cherry, blueberry, and raspberry fruit flavors alongside wet stone, salty mineral notes. There is a precision to this; it's not so weighty but more direct and focused. Fine tannins fill the palate, and this is just starting to show some of the savoriness of mature Bordeaux. A superb wine at an excellent time to drink but still with aging potential. 1% Cabernet Franc completes the blend." — GH, June 2022
96 points Wine & Spirits
"Tasted from barrel in 2005, this wine showed the freshness of the vintage in its bright woodland-berry scent before settling into tannins that felt mineral, powerful, and black. Directeur général Paul Pontallier commented at the time, 'I consider this to be typical, absolutely, of Château Margaux.' Two years on, the wine is definitively Margaux, from the fashionable scent of new oak, to the musculature and vinous strength of the fruit. The sweetness of the fraises des bois and plum seems improbable in the context of a completely dry, concentrated yet ethereal taste that doesn't stop. The wine will taunt you with its delicate, silken power whether you drink it in ten, 20, or 30 years." — October 2007
96 points Wine Enthusiast
"If one of 2004’s enduring characteristics is its freshness, then Margaux epitomizes this. It is so deliciously fresh and floating, with great black currant and blueberry fruits, pointed up by spice, mint, and a sense of elegance and poise. There’s no doubt about its aging potential either: just feel that heart of firm tannins." — RV, June 2007
94 points Wine Advocate
"The 2004 Château Margaux has always been a promising wine, and here, served blind against the First Growths, it finally proved that patience is necessary when it comes to such wines. It has an exquisite bouquet with brilliant delineation, scents of redcurrant, raspberry coulis, cold stone (almost flint-like) with pencil-lead and cedar lending it a Pauillac-like sense of aristocratic flair. The palate is extremely well balanced with a supple opening, nigh perfect acidity with a surprisingly citric undercurrent that lends so much freshness and tension. While it does not have the weight and power of say, 2000, 2005, or 2009, it cruises along with utmost harmony and you become smitten by its charms - something that is perhaps in short supply among the First Growths in this vintage. This is excellent." — NM, February 2017
94 points Vinous
"Bright red-ruby. Knockout nose features boysenberry, currant, cedar, graphite, and mocha. Suave, gentle, and sweet, already displaying ineffable inner-mouth perfume. The 17% Merlot component injects a silky component, and the oak element adds a complementary sweetness. Complex, lush, horizontal finish saturates the mouth with flavor. It was not clear to me in April that the 2006 would exceed this—and it will certainly take longer to reach full maturity in bottle." — ST, May 2007
94 points Wine Spectator
"This is lovely, with enticing, velvety plum sauce, macerated red currant fruit, black tea, and incense notes that have melded beautifully. This shows a lovely tug of earth at the very end, retaining some grip for further cellaring, despite being approachable now. A lovely wine." — JM, November 2014
2005 Margaux, Margaux
100 points James Suckling
"The nose on this seems more concentrated than the 2000, and the purity of fruit is stunning, with blueberries, raspberries, fresh flowers, and hints of licorice. This is perfect and complete. Full-bodied, with notes of forest berries and wild raspberries, this is thick and velvety with perfectly polished tannins. You can really feel the density on this, more than the tannic structure. This is a sleeping beauty that will be utterly captivating when it awakes." — November 2010
99 points Decanter
"The famed Château Margaux is a 1er cru classé, first growth property, in Bordeaux. The 2005 vintage was heralded as a 5-star year. Château Margaux upped their Cabernet Sauvignon proportion of the blend in 2005 to 85%. If I have to pick my favorite wine from the wonderful 2005 vintage, this one certainly comes very close. Rich plum purple colors in the glass, just softening around the edges. Attractive just-starting-to-age claret aromas on the nose – licorice, black truffles, and soft black fruits, all carried through on to the palate, has all of the looked-for elements in play. Great plush texture, lovely balance of acidity, tannins, and fruit, love the complexity, and it really lingers on the palate, impressive persistency. Outstanding for me, great Margaux typicity." — JA, January 2015
99 points Vinous
"In two recent tastings, the 2005 Château Margaux has been nothing less than magnificent. A wine of stunning perfume and inner sweetness, the 2005 gradually opens to reveal layers of red-toned fruit intermingled with floral accents. It's as if all the classic Margaux signatures have been amped up in a huge way. Dehydration on the vine concentrated the fruit, but also the impression of tannin and acid, such that the 2005 retains huge fruit density along with plenty of brightness as well. Vibrant and beautifully layered, the 2005 Grand Vin is off the charts and easily one of the wines of the vintage." — AG, April 2021
98 points Wine Advocate
"The first-growth 2005 Château Margaux (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot), a lavish fragrance of blackcurrants, velvety new saddle leather, spring flowers, and spice soars from the glass. The wood is already totally concealed beneath the cascade of fruit in this medium to full-bodied, pure, and majestic wine. This concentrated, dense, but nevertheless strikingly elegant, multi-layered wine has a finish of 45+ seconds. It builds incrementally to a crescendo and finale." — RP, June 2015
98 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Saturated red-ruby. Explosive aromas of plum, raspberry, bitter chocolate, coffee, almond paste, and smoke; this smells voluptuous. Then extraordinarily opulent on the palate, with an almost marzipan-like ripeness. Coats every square millimeter of the mouth with a texture of liquid silk. The baby fat here is incredible, but there's a structure of steel and powerful minerality underneath." — ST, June 2008
98 points Wine Enthusiast
"For a Château Margaux, this is an especially rich wine. The dense fruit, superripe but not overpowering, and the blackberry jam flavors show the richness of the year. There is wood alongside the juiciness and sweet tannins." — RV, June 2008
97 points Wine Spectator
"Still very tight, but there are whispers of alder, bay leaf, tobacco, and singed sandalwood aromas here. They give way to a beautifully silky and refined, but extremely concentrated, core of cassis and blackberry fruit that has gained a lightly mulled hint. The long finish shows echoes of dark earth and iron that bring you back for more. A beauty, with a long way to go." — JM, Web-2018
19/20 points Jancis Robinson
"85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Following a cold winter, a hot sunny spring led to quick flowering in early June with hot and dry weather during July/August. This led to the development of small, concentrated grapes and a much lower yield than in the cool, damp 2004. Margaux was undoubtedly one of the stars of the tasting, displaying massive, monumental structure suggesting this will be a wine to cellar for several decades to come. Lovely purity and concentration on the palate with black fruit surrounding a core of graphite. Although there were delicate floral notes, this seemed more Pauillac than Margaux with a cool character on the palate, fine acidity, and polished tannins. A very long future ahead." — AWH, June 2021
19/20 points
2007 Margaux, Margaux
95 points Decanter
"All of the Left Bank firsts are tasting excellent, but Margaux stands out for the tightness and clarity of its sweet cherry and cassis fruit expression, the menthol grip on the finish, and the perfume that runs through the palate. This is a vintage that could almost be ready to drink with a good carafing, but the layers of graphite and the finesse to the tannins suggest it could also go longer. A great example of the subtle crafting possible in 2007." — JA, February 2017
93 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Bright, dark red. Knockout nose combines redcurrant, blackberry, spices, flowers, tobacco, and sexy sweet oak tones; complex and aristocratic. Then sweet, suave, and seamless, with lovely inner-mouth perfume and noteworthy finesse to the flavors of blackberry, cherry, and flowers. Finishes long and sweet, with noble tannins for the year. Not a big wine, but one of the classiest examples of the vintage." — ST, August 2010
93 points Wine Enthusiast
"Silky wine, fresh and light, balanced with high acidity cutting through blackberry fruits. The structure has some substance, but this is a light, aromatic wine, developing fast, already delicious, and only for medium-term aging." — RV, April 2010
2012 Margaux, Margaux
96 points Wine Advocate
"Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Château Margaux has a taut, linear, pencil lead-infused bouquet with pure blackberry and boysenberry scents, an undercurrent of tobacco that surfaces after five minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, a life-affirming sense of balance with well-integrated new oak towards the finish. I concur with Robert Parker that this has become more structured and masculine in bottle, yet there is pedigree here from start to finish, a sense of effortlessness that is seductive. This is a top-class wine from the late Paul Pontallier and his team." — NM, October 2016
95 points Wine Enthusiast
"This elegant wine is very much in the classic style of Margaux. Although the wood is still showing, the wine has fresh black currant fruits along with an underlying firm, long-lived tannic structure. The aftertaste with its dryness and acidity confirms that. Drink from 2025." — RV, May 2015
95 points Wine Spectator
"Bay and menthol hints lift a core of crushed plum and warm cherry confiture notes while the background fills steadily with black tea, singed alder, and iron elements. Turns a little darker on the finish, with a coating of bittersweet cocoa powder and roasted vanilla bean accents, while the minerality stays buried for now. Remarkably dense and packed, yet refined, especially for the vintage. This will need some time to unwind." — JM, January 2015
94 points James Suckling
"Wonderful aromas of flowers such as roses, violets, strawberries, and hints of wet earth. Wet stones as well. Full to medium body, very firm tannins, and a long, racy finish. Minerals and chalk on the aftertaste. Needs three to five years to soften." — February 2015
94 points Vinous
"The 2012 Margaux is beautifully polished and suave in the glass, with pliant fruit and plenty of finesse, all in a classic, mid-weight Margaux style. Inward and tightly wound, the 2012 is clearly holding back much of its potential. The 2012 has a stony, mineral-infused energy that is going to require at least a few more years in bottle to fully unwind, while the 100% new oak is a bit pronounced at this early stage. Grilled herbs, smoke, graphite, and sage add further nuances on the savory, delineated finish." — AG, January 2016
Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac
2003 Lafite Rothschild
100 points Wine Advocate
"The 2003 Lafite Rothschild comes as close to perfection as any of the great Lafites made over the past three decades (1982, 1986, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010). This sensational effort came in at 12.7% natural alcohol, it is made in the style of one of this estate’s great classics, the 1959. Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color to the rim along with a luxurious bouquet of cedarwood, lead pencil shaving, white chocolate, cocoa and cassis. Fat, rich, opulent and full-bodied with low acidity and stunning seductiveness and complexity, this noble wine possesses a bountiful, generous, heady style. It is just coming into its plateau of maturity where it should hold for 20-25 years. This is one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage – make no mistake about that." — RP, August 2014
98 points James Suckling
"Spicy and rich, with a tobacco and berry character on the nose and palate. I love the nose. Full bodied, with soft velvety tannins that give you so much. This goes on and on. Sexy and exciting right now, but leave this for five or six years." — March 2011
97 points Wine Enthusiast
"This is a splendid wine. Yes, it is more powerful than the usual aristocratic Lafites, but it still manages to retain a special air of great elegance and presence. The fruits are black, the tannins immensely powerful, the flavors are of black figs, dates, cocoa. At the end, there is a vibrant acidity that shows through, which promises a great life for this great wine." — RV, May 2006
96 points Vinous
"The 2003 Lafite-Rothschild famously shrugged off the merciless heat of that infamous summer when the temperature at the estate nudged 42° Celsius. It has a lovely bouquet of black plum, pressed iris, a touch of glycerin, and (for Lafite) exotic scents of blood orange. The palate is powerful and intense as you would expect. There is great depth and volume with glossy black fruit laced with orange zest, smoke, and melted tar. You can almost feel the summer in this Lafite-Rothschild but unlike many of its peers, it has requisite acidity to maintain freshness and avoid cloyingness on the finish. Whilst not my pick of modern-day Lafites, I have to doff my cap because it was and still is, one of the finest Left Banks of the vintage." — NM, July 2018
96 points Wine Spectator
"Subtle, complex aromas of berries, licorice, and currants. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Very well-integrated wine. Lovely stuff. Wonderful length and finesse." — JS, March 2006
2004 Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac
96 points Wine Enthusiast
"Yes, there is power to this wine. But more than that, it exudes authority; a dense and solid wine with an impressive presence and texture. It has a velvet mouthfeel: the tannins are dusty and mineral, alongside fruit flavors of ripe black plums and dark figs, leavened with fresh acidity. The potential, of course, is there: 20 years if you can wait." — RV, June 2007
95 points Wine Advocate
"The 2004 Lafite-Rothschild appears to be another late-bloomer in the sense that this 12-year-old bottle is the best I have tasted, implying an upward swing in quality. It has a wondrous bouquet, very sensual and pure with blackberry, graphite, and cedar -- all the hallmarks of Pauillac, delivered with great panache. It is more opulent than I recall. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, pitch-perfect acidity and a beautiful structure. There is a regal sense to this Lafite, understated compared to the other First Growths and yet the persistence on the finish deserves a round of applause, especially in the context of the vintage. This is superb and could possibly turn out to be the pick of the Firsts." — NM, February 2017
95 points Wine & Spirits
"The most aristocratic of the Pauillac premier crus in this vintage, Lafite captures the pure black-currant flavor of fine Cabernet Sauvignon. Though oak blocks the aroma for now, a river of fruit runs through the taste into a long, expansive finish. The wine is layered and palate-coating, its luscious fruit tamed by firm, mineral tannin. Elegant." — October 2007
2005 Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac
100 points James Suckling
"An incredible nose, so subtle with red fruits, mint, minerals, and all sorts of flowers give way to Cohiba cigar tobacco. The palate has such freshness and density, with perfectly polished tannins. Slightly leathery, like a wonderful Hermes bag. What a wine, please leave this for another ten years." — February 2011
99 points Decanter
"A wine worthy of superlatives, the 2005 Lafite showed incredible concentration yet a superb balance. The lovely blackcurrant and plum fruit shows a fragrant floral edge, hints of oak spice, and a firm, earthy underpinning. The texture is superbly elegant, with a lovely freshness and a lilting, silky finish, yet it does not lack a tannic grip, and the finish is satisfyingly long. Near perfection. A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot with just a drop of Petit Verdot, aged in new casks." — CC, June 2021
99 points Wine Enthusiast
"Initially dense, almost black enough to be attacked with a knife. But then it becomes apparent that this is a beautifully integrated, balanced wine, bringing together power, with the hallmark Lafite style and poise. In the end, you have a wine that promises an impressive aging potential along with delicious black currant fruits, acidity, and a layer of striking tannins." — RV, June 2008
Cellar Selection
98 points Wine & Spirits
"Lafite is the most elegant of the firsts in 2005; it also may be the most romantic. The wine's heady scent of new oak rises in harmony with the succulent red fruit. Then the tannins come on with a gentle roar, layering the perception of flavors in subtle shadings. There's not a trace of the hyperintensity that so many young 2005s wear as if required for their longevity. The stones of Lafite grow something more numinous than that, a wine with the power to strike an emotional chord through taste. This will be one of the longest lived wines of 2005." — October 2008
98 points Wine Spectator
"Delivers blackberry, dried porcini, tobacco and licorice aromas. Full-bodied, with layers of velvety tannins and loads of dark chocolate, cigar box, currant, berry, and mineral. The finish is long, with a coffee, almost meaty, aftertaste. Very beautiful and balanced." — JS, March 2008
2006 Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac
96 points Wine Enthusiast
"As so often with Lafite, it is power that marks this wine. That, and density of texture. The additional element in this vintage, and at this stage of the wine’s development, is a dominant wood element. The vanilla and tannins from the wood match well with the concentrated tannins of the fruit, which is dark, dense, and tight. This is a wine for long-term aging: in 15 years this will have superb richness." — RV, March 2009
95 points James Suckling
"The aromas of blue fruit, iodine, sweet tobacco, and lavender follow through nicely to the palate that’s medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins and a long, cool finish. Still a little tight, but shows great finesse and pedigree. Just starting to open now." — June 2021
95 points Wine Advocate
"The 2006 Château Lafite-Rothschild offers impressive fruit intensity on the nose, although it does not have the precision of the 2006 Mouton-Rothschild. Red berry fruits intermingle with rose petals and sous-bois scents - very typical Lafite bouquet where less can be more. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and a keen line of acidity. It is certainly very well balanced with graphite-tinged black fruit, but whereas Mouton-Rothschild possesses that peacock's tail, Lafite remains linear. Nevertheless, the sophistication really comes through here. It is a Lafite-Rothschild that may spring a few surprises down the line, one of those wines that keeps drawing you back. Understated class." — NM, May 2016
95 points Vinous
"Very ripe aromas of cassis, graphite, and cedar chips, lifted by peppery and floral high notes. Densely packed and superconcentrated but light on its feet, with compelling flavors of spicy berries and minerals. The very long, slow-building finish stains the palate with flavor. Very backward but not austere; and unlike some recent vintages of Lafite, which could appear deceptively light in the early going, this showcases its density and ripeness from the outset. I have the impression that most of the less-ripe fruit was declassified into the far lighter Carruades de Lafite (87), which shows a distinctly cool style for the year." — ST, June 2009
95 points Wine Spectator
"Plum, sweet tobacco, and blackberry aromas follow through to a full body, offering a tight, chewy palate, yet with polished, refined tannins. Very long and caressing. This turns to a muscular and toned young wine. Gets better and better with age." — JS, March 2009
2007 Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac
94 points Wine Advocate
"A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2007 Lafite Rothschild (84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot) reveals classic Lafite aromas of graphite, unsmoked cigar tobacco, black currants, cherries, and a hint of truffles. The complex aromatics are followed by a round, medium to full-bodied wine with silky tannins, an overall subtle smoky component, and a rich, round, generous, plump finish. Already evolved and delicious, it should continue to drink well for two decades." — NM, April 2010
94 points Wine Enthusiast
"This is a wine for aging. The tannins are dense, very dry with a feel of extraction. It takes a while for the black currant fruit to show through, with acidity and freshness dominant. The wine is still settling, and time will bring the fruit into line with the tannins." — RV, April 2010
90-93 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Good bright ruby. Cassis, minerals, licorice, and mint lifted by spices on the nose. Moderately dense and fruit-driven, with lovely mouthcoating breadth to the dark berry, spice, and fresh herb flavors; remains just this side of peppery. Best today on the subtle but very persistent finish, which features very fine-grained tannins, a restrained sweetness, and a captivating vibrancy. Among the most suave and refined examples of the vintage." — ST, June 2008
90-93 points Vinous
"(84% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot and 1% petit verdot) Good bright ruby. Cassis, minerals, licorice, and mint lifted by spices on the nose. Moderately dense and fruit-driven, with lovely mouthcoating breadth to the dark berry, spice, and fresh herb flavors; remains just this side of peppery. Best today on the subtle but very persistent finish, which features very fine-grained tannins, a restrained sweetness, and a captivating vibrancy. Among the most suave and refined examples of the vintage." — ST, May 2008
91 points Wine Spectator
"A big, juicy wine for the vintage, with spice, sweet tobacco, and plum aromas and flavors. Full, long and rich, with a soft texture. A little tight, but should develop nicely in the bottle." — JS, March 2010
Best after 2014
Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
2000 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
97 points Wine Advocate
"Deep garnet colored with a touch of brick, the 2000 Mouton Rothschild (composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot) boldly bursts from the glass with tantalizing Black Forest cake, dried mulberries, kirsch, and blackcurrant pastilles notes plus wafts of iodine, incense, potpourri, and cinnamon stick with a hint of cigar boxes. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs in the muscular fruit, framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with phenomenal length. This is an incredibly complex and multifaceted wine, and it's drinking deliciously now. This said, I can’t help but feel that it is holding something back, that it still has another layer of opulence and seduction to reveal in its tight-knit fruit and solid structure. I personally can’t wait to see how this beauty will continue to unfold over the years to come." — LPB, October 2019
97 points Wine Enthusiast
"With its distinctive antique bottle and gold-etched label dominated by a sheep, this is definitely a move away from classic Bordeaux bottling. It is good that the wine can support the presentation. The fruit is so ripe, it almost tastes of raisins, but that sweetness is finely balanced by the dry tannins and concentrated texture. To finish, there are exotic spices, giving an almost oriental character to the long aftertaste." — RV, June 2003
96 points Decanter
"A little more open than the other four Firsts in the vintage, with undergrowth, baked earth, and gentle spice alongside the truffles, smoked caramel, spice, and bilberry fruits. It shows plenty of the trademark Mouton generosity and ripe tannic structure and is lusciously textured. This came in at 80% 1st wine. It wasn't until Philippe Dhalluin arrived a few years later that production for the 1st wine would be lowered, with significantly more Petit Mouton being made (Lafite and Latour both closer to 50% 1st wine for similar-sized estates). That's not to say that you won't be thrilled to open and drink this wine, and it will undoubtedly show that same stubborn unwillingness to fade away that the First Growths all share." — JA, July 2020
95 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Bright deep ruby with the barest hint of garnet; still very youthful. Enticing, complex nose of cassis, smoky cedar, violet, underbrush, and kirsch; very Pauillac, if in a ripe style. Dense, rich, and suave in the mouth, with lively acidity nicely framing the rich flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry jam, milk chocolate, grilled bread, and spicy underbrush. Finishes with noble tannins and outstanding chocolatey persistence." — ID, August 2011
2003 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
95 points Vinous
"A heady, exotic wine, the 2003 Mouton Rothschild takes hold of all the senses. The ripeness and exuberance of the year come through in spades as this dramatic, opulent wine shows off its radiant personality. The 2003 can be enjoyed now, but it could also use another few years for the tannins to soften. Still, the 2003 is pretty hard to resist today. This is an exceptional, deeply satisfying Mouton endowed with notable richness but also exceptional balance. Hints of toffee, torrefaction, and dark spices are laced into the finish." — AG, May 2016
94 points Wine Enthusiast
"This wine is dominated by new wood, which goes right through the big, dark fruit flavors and tannins. Very ripe cassis flavors are under this wood, waiting likely for many years before the wood flavors subside. This is very much in the modern, polished style of Mouton today, made even more pronounced by the heat of the 2003 vintage." — RV, May 2006
94 points Wine Spectator
"Shows the heat of the vintage, as well as the slightly extracted feel of Dhalluin's predecessor, with a hint of jamminess to the mix of raspberry, plum, and fig fruit, along with melted licorice, charred cedar, and singed vanilla bean accents and a very light echo of caramel through the finish. Even with all that, there's a flash of minty freshness lurking throughout. There's lots here, but it's a bit atypical." — JM, March 2017
93 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Good medium ruby. This is downright exotic on the nose: mocha, coffee, graphite, and coconut, lifted by sandalwood and cinnamon spice. Then dense, supple, and fine-grained without coming across as heavy. Suggestion of aromatic tree bark. A seamless wine that spreads out horizontally on the back end and finishes with very fine tannins." — ST, May 2006
2004 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
95 points Wine Spectator
"This shows lots of mulled spice, warm tobacco leaf, and well-roasted cedar accents, but isn't short on fruit, offering enticing layers of red currant, plum, and blackberry confiture. The long finish is riddled with sweet smoke, black tea, and iron notes. A gorgeous wine from an overlooked vintage." — JM, March 2017
94 points James Suckling
"A dense and pretty wine for this less-than-optimum vintage. Full to medium body with firm and polished tannins. Flavors of currants, berries, mint, and spearmint." — November 2015
94 points Wine & Spirits
"Supple and grand, Mouton has a heavenly richness in 2004. The flavors are saturated with blackberry and black-cherry fruit, bright on the aroma, quieter and softer in the end. The wine has a laconic beauty, closed off behind its oak and stony tannin." — October 2007
93 points Vinous
"The 2004 Mouton Rothschild is supple, forward, and inviting. Dark cherry, plum, tobacco, and grilled herbs are all pushed forward. This is an especially succulent Mouton, partly because of the high percentage of Merlot that was common during this era. Gravel, pencil shavings, smoke, and cured meats add myriad shades of nuance on the powerful, explosive finish." — AG, May 2016
93 points Wine Enthusiast
"A wine that is powerful, highly extracted, and intense. The chocolate flavors and serious, dry tannins go with big, fat blackberry fruits and finishing acidity." — RV, June 2005
2005 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
98 points Decanter
"Mouton was voluptuous and immediately appealing, with spicy ripe cassis and plum fruit that poured from the glass, surrounded by liquorice, coconut, and toasted cedar. The texture was not abrasive but very full-bodied and round. The tannins initially appeared fine-grained and silky, but with a bit of time, one realized the immense structure of this wine. Impressively concentrated and very long on the finish, this is still youthful and should age for decades to come." — June 2021
98 points James Suckling
"This accelerates on the palate with incredibly ripe tannins and finesse. Full body, roasted fruit, leather, and grilled meat. Dried flowers, too. It shows superb tannin backbone and polish. Tight and youthful. Just starting to open. Currant and berry undertones with lead pencil are impressive." — October 2015
98 points Wine Advocate
"Technical Director and Chief Winemaker Philippe Dhalluin said this was a special year for him because he considers it his first great vintage—he started in 2004. Deep garnet with a hint of brick, the 2005 Mouton Rothschild is evolving into unabashed, flamboyant notes of Christmas cake, plum preserves, chocolate-covered cherries, eucalyptus, and crème de cassis with beautifully fragrant wafts of potpourri, incense, Indian spices, and cigar box. Full-bodied, the palate performs vinous pirouettes with dazzling exotic spice, floral, and earthy nuances, framed by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and mineral-laced." — LPB, October 2019
98 points Vinous
"One of the highlights in this vertical, the 2005 Mouton Rothschild is exceptional. Dark, powerful, and explosive on the palate, the 2005 is endowed with magnificent depth and richness. Just at the early part of its drinking window, the 2005 is sure to drink well for many years from here, especially if it is given a little bit of air. The 2005 is a stunning Mouton, but it needs time to fully blossom." — AG, May 2016
98 points Wine Spectator
"Gorgeous, with singed alder and juniper notes starting to strut their stuff, while the immense core of steeped red currant, blackberry, and plum fruit continues to wait in reserve. A light sanguine thread weaves in on the back end, which is driven by a serious bolt of iron. Shows terrific grip, length, and cut. A brick-house Pauillac built for the long haul." — JM, Web-2017
2006 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
97 points Int'l Wine Review
"The 2006 Château Mouton Rothschild is an absolutely remarkable showing in this vintage, which is composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. This impresses with its stunning aromatics of blackberries and currants, which are joined by spices, dark chocolate, espresso, graphite, tobacco, and mineral nuances that all take shape. On the palate, this is every bit as compelling, as it boasts a wonderful full body that is supported by gorgeous velvety, yet supportive tannins. It goes on to display incredible overall balance and concentration all the way through the long, beautifully polished finish. This is a total success, and all signs indicate a long, graceful evolution to come for the fabulous 2006." — JD, September 2016
97 points Wine Enthusiast
"At the time it was shown as a barrel sample in early 2007, this was the best wine of 2006. That accolade remains. It has all the power of the Cabernet Sauvignon in Pauillac, which was the greatest success of the vintage. That power comes from the dense tannins as well as the black plum and spice flavors and minerality. The texture becomes velvet, giving a final richness, but never losing its long aging potential. In a year that is good, but not at the top, Mouton has made a great wine." — RV, March 2009
Top 100 Wines of 2009, Cellar Selection
96 points Jeb Dunnuck
"I loved the 2006 Château Mouton Rothschild, a complex, nuanced, flawlessly balanced Mouton based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot. Tobacco, cedarwood, lead pencil shavings, and both red and black fruits define the bouquet, and this is clearly in its prime drinking window, with a terrific mix of ripe fruit and just developing secondary aromas. Full-bodied and concentrated, with sweet tannins, this elegant, layered, silky 2006 has another 20 years of prime drinking." — May 2023
96 points Wine Advocate
"Tasted at the Mouton-Rothschild vertical in London, the 2006 Mouton-Rothschild was really the wine that put winemaker Philippe Dhalluin on the map, in the sense that, unlike the 2005 born in a great vintage, this 2006 had to transcend it. It remains one of the standouts of the growing season and actually replicates previous showings just the week earlier and in January. As expected, the nose has quite brilliant delineation with blackberry, graphite, and here an almost cold slate-like scent. The palate is harmonious with carefully judged acidity, fine-grain tannin, and immense detail on the finish." — NM, January 2017
96 points Int'l Wine Cellar
"Bright ruby-red. Vibrant aromas of cassis, blueberry, cedar, and graphite. Wonderfully pure and silky in the mouth, with great subtle, slow-building intensity and superb energy and thrust. A real essence of Cabernet Sauvignon and Mouton terroir. This one really rattled my brain—in the gentlest way. As silky as it is, it possesses bottomless depths. Finishes with big but noble tannins and outstanding length." — ST, June 2009
95 points Decanter
"The breadth and depth of this wine is impossible to ignore. Tobacco notes blend with cappuccino, cedar, and grilled almonds. This is classy, with just the right amount of abandon. Grilled black fruits are very Mouton, but with the touch of austerity and pulled-in, pared-down tannins that tell you it’s 2006. Complex and complete." — JA, June 2016
95 points James Suckling
"This is an eye-opener with a tight core of complex fruit character as well as subtle chocolate and spices. Full body, firm tannins, and a classy finish. Holding back. Much better than expected. A vintage forgotten." — October 2015
2007 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac
95 points Wine Enthusiast
"The wood element is important here, but it is based on a firm Cabernet Sauvignon structure, dry but rich tannins. The wine is a great success for the vintage, giving sweetness, ripe fruit that only shows light extraction, and dark plum and berry flavors. The feeling is of polished fruit and wood, rounded but always dense." — RV, April 2010
94 points Decanter
"It was during lockdown that I really started to discover how well the 2007 vintage is tasting right now, and it was to celebrate a post-lockdown (V1) reunion with old friends that we opened this bottle. Definitely still a baby, it jumped out of the glass with its seductively rich texture, showing how the best estates casually skip over vintage limitations (in fact, we tasted it next to a 2005 3rd Growth, and the Mouton walked all over it). Tasted even better the next day, when the blackberry, cassis, slate, and chocolate notes had opened up further." — JA, November 2020
94 points James Suckling
"This Mouton is starting to show the complexity of an aged Mouton with truffles, dried strawberries, and cherries. Full body, firm tannins, and flavors of sous bois and mushrooms, which make this really quite sexy." — October 2015
94 points Vinous
"The 2007 Mouton Rothschild is a gorgeous wine, especially within the context of the vintage. Open, expressive aromatics and forward fruit make the 2007 an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next two decades or so. Although the 2007 is not an epic Mouton, it is without question one of the best recent vintages for current drinking. Smoke, tobacco, cedar, and licorice add the closing shades of nuance." — AG, May 2016
2009 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac - IMPERIAL 6L
100 points James Suckling
This is what the Medoc is all about. The freshness and delicacy of this wine in combination with its serious concentration and firm core are totally stunning. Time has already worked its magic and this is already delicious, but has decades in front of it. Drink or hold. (2/2019)
99 points Decanter
This wine is stunningly impressive but almost the opposite of the 2010 vintage. The year offered a warm, wet spring followed by a hot, dry summer and cool nights in September, giving a riper, more generous impression. A bit of smoke and spice on the initial attack with a ripe, plummy fruit character that is more black than red and a supple, dense richness on the palate that lingers sumptuously on the finish. This vintage will drink sooner than the 2010, yet should easily last as long. The finished wine is a blend of 82.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and a half-percent of Petit Verdot. Picking began in mid-September for the Merlot and early October for the Cabernet, with 45% of the fruit going into the grand vin. (CC) (2/2022)
99 points Jane Anson
Cedar, sandalwood, slate, liqourice, smoked earth, this is subtle, inches slowly through the palate, showcasing fine tannins that at first hide the depth and power in the wine, preferring instead to levitate above the palate. The more muscular cassis, bilberry, cocoa bean and pencil lead arrive as it opens up, and the Pauillac character becomes very clear. An utterly signature Lafite, at every moment the estate signature dominates the vintage character, and of all the First Growths in this tasting it performs the trick of gaining in power with every minute that it is open in the glass, suprising you with how much it builds and layers in complexity. True to itself, effortlessly confident, will stay on this plateau for many decades. 100% new oak, Charles Chevallier technical director. (7/2022)
99 points Wine Advocate
The main reason the 2009 Lafite Rothschild did not receive a perfect score is because the wine has closed down slightly, but it is unquestionably another profound Lafite, their greatest wine since the amazing 2003. Among the most powerful Lafites ever made (it came in at 13.59% alcohol), the final blend was 82.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot. The selection was incredibly severe with only 45% of the crop being utilized. A tight, but potentially gorgeous nose of graphite, black currants, licorice and camphor is followed by a full-bodied wine revealing the classic elegance, purity and delineated style of Lafite. It is phenomenally concentrated with softer tannins than the 2005, the 2003's voluptuous, broad, juicy personality, and low acidity. There are several vintages that I thought were a replay of their colossal 1959, most notably 1982 and 2003, but 2009 is also one to keep an eye on. It is still extremely youthful and seems slightly more backward than I would have guessed based on the barrel tastings, but it needs 10-15 years of bottle age, and should last for 50+. (RP) 99+ (12/2011)
98 points Wine Spectator
This is stunning for its ability to take massively endowed fig, currant paste and crushed plum fruit flavors and harness them with ultrasuave freshly roasted espresso, black tea and ganache notes. A seductive style, long and velvety, with the dense core of black fruit and smoldering iron just waiting and waiting. Best from 2020 through 2040. (JM) (3/2012)
97 points Int'l Wine Cellar
Deep ruby-red. The deep, intense nose is a bit more forward than usual for Lafite, displaying classic, pure aromas of cassis, cedar and graphite. Enters the mouth beautifully pure and fresh, with laser-like precision to its deceptively light blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar and mineral flavors. The exceptionally refined tannins give this wine an utterly seamless quality on the pure, extremely long, mineral-driven finish. Though it will be drinking well sooner than usual, this truly remarkable wine will be enjoyed by your grandchildren as well. Is it lacking just a bit of flesh to reach a perfect score? This may yet turn out to be the wine of the vintage, and is an archetypical expression of the unique characteristics of great Bordeaux cabernet sauvignon. (ID) 97+ (5/2010)
95-97 points Wine Enthusiast
A powerful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, solid in structure. The wine is rich and concentrated, very textured. Great spice goes with just enough fresh acidity, in this big wine. (RV) (8/2010)
96 points Vinous
The 2009 Lafite-Rothschild is quite high-toned and expressive on the nose, perhaps the most ostentatious of the top flight 2009s with upfront black cherry and boysenberry fruit, lavish new oak and touches of violet. The palate is sleek and satin-like in feel with copious dark cherry and boysenberry fruit, fig and dates, almost honeyed in texture towards the precocious finish that has an opulent bent, almost hedonistic, unusual for this First Growth. But it is kinda irresistible. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. (NM) (3/2019)
93-95 points John Gilman
The 2009 Lafite-Rothschild is a beautifully crafted wine that is all poise and seduction. This is the world’s ultimate luxury wine these days, and while the style has changed rather dramatically from the great Lafites of the decade of the 1980s, there is little here to complain about, as everything is done as perfectly as is humanly possible. The bouquet is deep and stunning, as it soars from the glass in a blaze of cassis, blackberries, coffee, tobacco smoke, a great base of gravelly soil tones and a generous coating of nutty, smoky new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, very suave and utterly complex, with a great core of pure fruit, moderate, refined tannins and stunning length and grip on the utterly seamless and completely seductive finish. This wine is crafted like a truly great Swiss watch, and consequently it offers up unprecedented accessibility at a very young age for those that will not be able to defer gratification, but it is so poised and beautifully balanced that it will also have no difficulty aging for many, many decades. Whether one prefers the old style of Lafite that took decades to really blossom or this new style that is the ultimate in seduction from the start is really just a matter of personal taste. There is certainly nothing in the makeup of the 2009 that is anything but exemplary in nature, and this is a beautiful wine. (3/2010)
19/20 points Jancis Robinson
A very deep crimson for a Lafite, though the texture is somehow ethereal and dancing. Unencumbered by too much ripeness. Lovely wine – so subtle and gorgeous and beautifully harmonious. 19/20 points. (JR) (2/2024)