Mouton Rothschild 2002 (1.5L)

95 DE / 95 FS / 94 VM / 93 JS / 93 WA / 93 WCI / 18.5 JR

Opulent yet restrained aromas which give the impression of ripeness. A sense of hedonism pervades here – and it’s very welcome too. Long and elegant with good depth of fruit, well woven tannins and a long, sensuous finish.-Decanter

The barrel sample at the Château was very convincing: strong ruby ​​garnet, good luminosity, opaque core. On the nose there is a delicate smoked note, delicately animalic, sloes, charcoal, dark berry puree. Almost floral on the palate, thick and concentrated, but already has momentum, pepper and spice, a full-bodied wine with a chocolate aftertaste, coffee, medium length, classic features. 2006: Shows fine dark berry nuances, subtle smoky spice, mineral note.-Falstaff

Good saturated ruby-red. Tight nose hints at currant and smoky oak. Highly concentrated, densely packed and built to age. As young as it is, it also shows a lovely velvety texture rare for this vintage. Finishes with terrific breadth, subtle minerality and noble tannins. I've been a fan of this wine since the outset-Stephen Tanzer, Vinous Media

I tasted this a few days after Bordeaux en primeur 2014. I was at my house in Italy and I forgot I had the bottle in my cellar. I really liked it. It was ready to drink, though some of my guests were less enthusiastic. My wife even thought it was tired already, yet the bottle was finished in 10 minutes! The wine showed fresh herb and berry character with tobacco undertones, a medium body and fine tannins. Just opening now. Fine and sillky textured. 93 points - James Suckling

Dense purple to the rim, this wine exhibits the classic cassis aroma that is so characteristic of Mouton. Medium to full-bodied, tannic, powerful, and cut somewhat from the 1988 mold, this is a backward, chewy, well-endowed Mouton-Rothschild that will require considerable patience from those who purchase it. A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the wine needs a good decade of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+.-Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate

This was a treat as First Growths are not popped that much these day. This is coming along nicely, with tobacco, cedar wood, cassis and earthy, forest floor notes continue developing. It's not the most concentrated vintage of Mouton, but it's starting to soften and fill out, while adding complexity and charm. Produced from a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, I'd give it another 5 - 8 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 2 decades. 93 Points-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider

Deep crimson. Firm, strongly cassis nose. Very voluptuous texture. Appetising and beautifully balanced. Obviously Médoc. Dried out a little on the end but the contrast between the flesh of this wine and skinniness of the Margaux tasted immediately beforehand could not have been more marked. It was still fresh and clean 24 hours afterwards but had lost a little density.-Jancis Robinson