2022 Aile d'Argent, Château Mouton-Rothschild En Primeur
Released for sale en primeur, Château Mouton Rothschild (98-99 pts JS) and its second wine, Le Petit Mouton are released today, along with the estate's white wine, Aile d'Argent and the Barsac premier grand cru classé Château Coutet, which is made under the direction of the Baron Philippe de Rothschild winemaking team. The Mouton Rothschild wines are offered on allocation, please enquire.
Offered en primeur, on allocation.
Landing in spring 2025.
Limited availability, on allocation. To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk
Producer Profile
Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac
Château Mouton-Rothschild is a Premier Cru Classé estate in the commune of Pauillac. Unlike Lafite and Latour, Mouton was not rated as a first growth in the 1855 Classification. After establishing itself in the early nineteenth century, an ill-timed bad patch in the 1840s probably cost it that accolade and it was not until 1973 that it was upgraded to first growth.
This was largely due to the work of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who had taken over in 1922. He also introduced château bottling at Mouton in 1924 (which subsequently became key to quality across the Grand Crus Classé) as well as the artist-designed labels from 1945. Artists including Miró, Chagall, Braque, Picasso, Francis Bacon, Dali, Jeff Koons and Prince Charles have all contributed labels.
The vineyard consists of 90 hectares on the “Plateau de Mouton” which rises 27m above sea-level, on very deep gravelly soils, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (81%), Merlot (15%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (1%).
| RED | 2022 | 2 cases | Château Mouton Rothschild | 75cl | £3,108 per case of 6 | Château Mouton Rothschild 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £3,108 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Mouton Rothschild was picked 1 to 26 September with one of the highest Cabernet Sauvignon contents in years, matured in 100% new oak as usual. Very deep, almost opaque in color. It is stubborn on the nose, at first, backward, then opens after 10 minutes with black plum, cassis and violet aromas. It is more voluptuous than the 2022 Lafite-Rothschild which is what you expect. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy and quite strict tannins (the IPT is 76), that frame layers of black fruit laced with tobacco and graphite. Powerful, almost burly, it is perhaps how the 1986 tasted in its youth. A Mouton-Rothschild determined to make a statement and it certainly does that. Feels a bit like tasting Thor's hammer at the moment, but it will just require considerable cellaring. 14.05% alcohol. 2032-2075. 96-98 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Inky damson colour, with vibrant violet reflections, velvet texture, aromatics less exuberant than the Petit Mouton, but the concentration and depth on the palate is absolutely there, with cocoa powder, grilled coffee bean, olive paste, cassis, bitter black chocolate on the finish as the tannins close in, ready for decades ahead. This walks the line, and is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Clearly needs a long time before approaching, give it the full 10 years and then some. Harvest began September 1, earliest since 1893. 32hl/h yield. 3.89ph, 76IPT, 100% new oak. Harvest overall September 1 to 26. Jean-Emanuel Danjoy director. 49% of production in the Grand Vin, 27% Petit Mouton. 100% new barrels for ageing. 98 points" janeanson.com------"A brilliant wine that likely sits somewhere between the 2019 and 2020 in quality, the 2022 Mouton Rothschild is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot. Unwinding in the glass with complex aromas of minty cassis, cigar wrapper, violets and subtle hints of loamy soil, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered core of fruit and a fleshy, elegantly muscular profile. Broad-shouldered and seamless, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. This year the grand vin represents some 49% of the estate's production. 96-99 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The Mouton-specific creme de cassis is all there. Al dente, too. The grapes must have been picked at near perfection. Depth and complexity. Black berries, earth, violets and other flowers. Full-bodied yet very hemmed-in with tight tannins, which are precise and polished. You can taste the grape skins and dust of the soil. The length is rather endless. 92% cabernet sauvignon. 98-99 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| WHITE | 2022 | 2 cases | Château Mouton Rothschild - Aile d'Argent | 75cl | £660 per case of 6 | Château Mouton Rothschild Aile d'Argent 2022 / 2 cases / 75cl £660 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Aile d'Argent (which has been bottled under Diam 30 since 2017) has a silvery hue. It is a little contained on the nose compared to some other Médoc whites, gradually opening with beeswax and honeysuckle scents. The palate is well balanced, with crisp acidity, an attractive waxy texture thanks to the Sémillon, with a little oiliness toward the finish. Very fine. 89-91 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Harvested in the month of August, the 2022 Aile d'Argent bursts with aromas of gooseberries, white flowers, lime zest and mango. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, it's a bright, fleshy Sauvignon Blanc-dominant blend that concludes with a saline finish. 90-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Don't expect a big production of the white in 2022, as they saw just 16hl/h yields, mainly because Sémillon had such tiny berries, with high skin to juice ratio making things intense and concentrated. Think mango, pineapple, lemongrass, lime and mandarin zest, with a supple texture, with a delicious, and necessary, kick of bitterness on the finish. There has been a migration towards cooler terroir for the whites, still in their own vineyards either in Pauillac or just over appellation boundary. 45% new oak, 100% whole bunch pressing, zero malolactic (which is not always the case in Mouton), 3.18ph with zero adjustment ('this is not even something we ever discuss'). Harvest August 22 to 30. Second full year of Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy as technical director across the Mouton wines. 94 points" janeanson.com------"So vibrant and minerally with salt and dried apple, peach and pears. Medium to full body. Creamy texture. Some phenolics. Dried fruit skin. Vivid acidity. 3.18 pH. 52% sauvignon blanc, 39% semillon, 8% sauvignon gris, and 1% muscadelle. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2022 | 3 cases | Château Mouton Rothschild - Le Petit Mouton | 75cl | £1,098 per case of 6 | Château Mouton Rothschild Le Petit Mouton 2022 / 3 cases / 75cl £1,098 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild is laced with sumptuous red-toned fruit, pomegranate, mint, blood orange and rose petal. Silky tannins wrap it all together in style. Le Petit Mouton captures the exotic side of the year nicely and yet retains terrific energy throughout. 91-93 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com ------"Representing some 29% of the estate's production this year, the 2022 Le Petit Mouton shares much of the character of the grand vin, offering up a rich bouquet of cassis, dark berries, espresso roast and cigar wrapper, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered palate that's fleshy and concentrated, with powdery tannins and an expansive finish. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2022 Le Petit Mouton has an intense bouquet with violet infused cassis and blackberry fruit, just a faint touch of Medjool dates in the background. It opens extremely confidently in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. Structured, granular in texture and multi-layered, it's quite difficult to recognize this as a mere Deuxieme Vin. Long on the aftertaste, this is an outstanding Le Petit Mouton. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, RobertParker.com------"You often get powerful colour and texture with Petit Mouton, because it is never afraid to lean into its exuberant character, but this really does take things up a notch. Think chocolate brownies, olive paste, baked plum, damson, cassis, huge structure and phenolics, well integrated, with a plush mouthfeel and velvety tannins. Not easy to say when to drink this, because it is so appealing right now, even as an En Primeur sample, but the amount of tannins are going to safely take it through the years. One of the first wines that made me see the potential greatness of the vintage. Harvest September 1 to 26. 32hl/h yield. 60% new oak. 32hl/h yield. 80IPT. This is a buy. 95 points" janeanson.com------"Tasting more like a Grand Vin than a second wine, the 2022 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild boasts a deep purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of cassis, ripe blackberries, melted chocolate, espresso, and graphite. Rich, opulent, and still balanced, drink this sexy 2022 any time over the coming 15-20 years. The blend of the 2022 is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot that's still resting in 60% new barrels. 94-96 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The Petit Mouton is more and more structured and intense. It's made for the cellar. Full to medium body. Lively and intense. Solid. 71% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, 7% cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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