2012 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac 6x75cl

Neal Martin 95

The 2012 Mouton-Rothschild is an excellent wine for the vintage. Copious blackberry and blueberry fruits burst from the glass with incense and crushed violet scents, beautifully defined and perhaps even "audacious" for the growing season. The palate is "glossy" when compared directly to the other First Growth, yet there is brilliant delineation with a sense of tension on the finish. It’s a vivid and almost brash Mouton-Rothschild, but quite compelling. Tasted blind in Bordeaux. [Neal Martin, 26/01/2023]

Anticipated maturity: 2024-2050

JancisRobinson.com 18

Very heavy bottle! Intense, glamorous nose with real density and pizzazz. Sweet end. Neat and convincing first-growth quality. [05/03/2022]

Anticipated maturity: 2022-2042

Wine Advocate 96

Tasted at the Mouton-Rothschild vertical in London, the 2012 Mouton-Rothschild clearly has the upper hand over the 2011, if not quite at the level of the 2009, 2010 and what I envisage will be the 2015. There is obviously greater fruit intensity here, as if the contrast has been dialed up a couple of notches. It is quite showy on the nose, preening in its infancy with pure black cherries, graphite and hints of cold slate-like scents, later that hint of seaweed I observed when tasted blind a few months earlier. The palate is beautifully balanced with great vim and vigor. This is a Mouton that will not be put down – vivacious, vivid and delineated with wonderful focus and crucially, impressive persistence on the finish. Do not underestimate this Mouton-Rothschild, because I can see an upswing as it matures in bottle. Tasted April 2016. [Neal Martin, 28/09/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2025-2050

Antonio Galloni 94

The 2012 Mouton Rothschild continues to open up nicely. Forward, open and quite expressive, the 2012 looks like a wine that will drink well sooner rather than later. Dark cherry, plum, graphite, smoke and mocha meld into the inviting finish. The 2012 is not a huge wine, but it will open up sooner than some of the surrounding vintages. Time has only been a help for this open-knit, distinctly fruit-driven Mouton. The 2012 is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc harvested during the first fifteen days of October. [Antonio Galloni, 05/01/2016]

Anticipated maturity: 2022-2042

Vinous 92-94

(90% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot and 2% cabernet franc): Deep ruby. Perfumed nose of red berries, cassis, flint, vanilla and peppery spices. Then fresh, juicy and suave in the mouth, with flavors of cassis, sweet cocoa and vanilla and a surprisingly fleshy, almost opulent texture for the vintage. Finishes very long, with smooth tannins and lingering ripe black cherry, vanilla and mocha nuances. One of the top ten wines of the vintage. Given the quality of Armailhac and Clerc Milon–and a good Le Petit Mouton too–I believe that general director Philippe Dhalluin has come up with THE best overall performance of the 2012 vintage. [Ian D’Agata, 05/01/2013]