2008 Ch. Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac

With a dense, dark nose and juicy, brooding fruit, the 2008 Grand Vin is a wine of which the Baroness can be proud. Quite clearly one of our favourite of the First Growths this year, it has a lovely, savoury minerality that gives it elegance, despite its power. (Simon Staples, Berrys' Fine Wine Director - Apr 09)

I re-tasted this beauty last week at the Château (15/10/09) and it’s added more weight and richness to what was already an outstanding wine. Showing sublime concentration that remains so refreshing with almost menthol like qualities, it is cool, classic and precise without a hint of extraction. We tasted it alongside the perfect 2005 (20/20) and 2006 (19.5/20) and this was not just nipping at these modern legends’ heels, it was challenging them (18.5/20).
(Simon Staples, Berrys' Fine Wine Director - Nov 09)

Tighter and denser than the Petit Mouton with hidden depths and less obvious seduction. Very neat and firm with some fine polishing of texture and definite minerality at its core. Dry finish. Very fresh and neat. Finer boned than many Moutons – almost playing the Lafite card. All very introvert but nothing flashy. I found myself swallowing this at 9.20am! Well done.
(Jancis Robinson MW - jancisrobinson.com - Apr 09)