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Neal Martin, October 2016, Score: 94
It is four years since I last tasted the 1996 Château Mouton-Rothschild. Approaching 20 years old, the nose is now open for business but remaining classic in style, a mixture of red and black fruit, hickory, cedar and just a hint of lavender. It is very complex and beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly herbaceous, undergrowth-tinged opening, the tannins just a little abrasive at the moment, exerting a firmness in the mouth. I feel it is almost as if the palate has not kept pace with the aromatics, requiring more substance to fill out the foursquare finish. If you like a slightly more austere Pauillac then you will adore this, though I don't think it quite reaches the potential that it showed a few years ago. Tasted August 2016.
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Robert Parker, October 2019, Score: 97+
The last time I tasted the 1996 Mouton Rothschild (maybe a couple of years ago?), I recall it was a bit broody and closed. This showing was anything but! Deep garnet in color, it sashays out of the glass with lavishly dressed, gregarious crème de cassis, baked blackberries and plum pudding scents plus touches of menthol, fenugreek, star anise and sandalwood with fleeting glimpses at dried rose petals and oolong tea. The full-bodied palate is richly fruited, opulent and oh-so seductive, with bags of youthful black fruit and lovely finely grained tannins, finishing with fantastic freshness and length. This was tasted from jeroboam in September 2019. Drink 2019 - 2056
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Robert Parker, January 1998, Score: 92-94
Although the 1996 is not as flattering and opulent as the stunning 1995 Mouton-Rothschild, it is an impressive wine, but discipline will be required. The wine's dense black/purple color is accompanied by a tight but sweet nose of black fruits, wood, cassis, and vanillin. Less outrageously flamboyant when compared to the 1995, this is a structured, powerful, tannic, medium-bodied Mouton that is marvelously concentrated and pure, but in need of a minimum of 10-15 years of cellaring. In some years Mouton can produce wines that are too hard and tannic (1990), but that will not be the case with their 1996, a wine that possesses considerable stature and intensity. It has the fruit, extract, and depth to stand up to the wine's impressive structural components.Mouton's 1996, a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, has 10% more Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend than the spectacular 1995. The harvest began on September 30 and finished October 9, stopping for two days during that period. Over 400 harvesters were utilized. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2040. P.S. If this wine continues to flesh out, look for an even higher evaluation. Last tasted 3/97. Drink: 2009-2040.
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Robert Parker, April 1997, Score: 92-94
Mouton's 1996, a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, has 10% more Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend than the spectacular 1995. The harvest began on September 30 and finished October 9, stopping for two days during that period. Over 400 harvesters were utilized. Although the 1996 is not as flattering and opulent as the stunning 1995 Mouton-Rothschild, it is an impressive wine, but discipline will be required. The wine's dense black/purple color is accompanied by a tight but sweet nose of black fruits, wood, cassis, and vanillin. Less outrageously flamboyant when compared to the 1995, this is a structured, powerful, tannic, medium-bodied Mouton that is marvelously concentrated and pure, but in need of a minimum of 10-15 years of cellaring. In some years Mouton can produce wines that are too hard and tannic (1990), but that will not be the case with their 1996, a wine that possesses considerable stature and intensity. It has the fruit, extract, and depth to stand up to the wine's impressive structural components. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2040. P.S. If this wine continues to flesh out, look for an even higher evaluation.
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Robert Parker, February 1998, Score: 94-96
Made from a blend virtually identical to the 1995 (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Merlot), the 1996 has taken on weight and richness since I tasted it in spring, 1997. An opaque purple color is accompanied by an impressive, somewhat undeveloped but gorgeously pure creme de cassis nose with Asian spices, licorice, and smoky oak in the background. Sweet, full-bodied, powerful, and rich, with formidable extract, ripe tannin, and a layered impression, this wine builds to a blockbuster finish. I am super-impressed by this wine's evolution during 1997, as it now looks to be a great Mouton which I underrated when I first tasted it. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030.
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Robert Parker, April 1998, Score: 95-96
The evolution of the 1996 (which I retasted in late March prior to bottling) continues to confirm that this vintage is indeed awesome. The wine (which I would now rate as high as 95-96), is looking extraordinary as it enters into its last few months of barrel age. Massive, thick, and rich, it looks to be as prodigious as the slightly softer 1995. It is a sensational Mouton that appears to be every bit as complete and potentially grand as the other Medoc first-growths in this vintage. Drink: 2006-2030.
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Robert Parker, April 1999, Score: 94
This estate's staff believes that the 1996 Mouton-Rothschild is very complex. I agree that among the first-growths, this wine is showing surprising forwardness and complexity in its aromatics. It possesses an exuberant, flamboyant bouquet of roasted coffee, cassis, smoky oak, and soy sauce. The impressive 1996 Mouton-Rothschild offers impressive aromas of black currants, framboise, coffee, and new saddle leather. This full-bodied, ripe, rich, concentrated, superbly balanced wine is paradoxical in the sense that the aromatics suggest a far more evolved wine than the flavors reveal. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. By the way, the 1996 blend consists of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. Drink 2007-2030
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Clive Coates, June 2001, Score: 17/20
Good colour. Rich, oaky, potentiallyvoluptuous on the nose. Medium-full body.Decent attack but then it tails off a bit. It isnot short but it lacks the dimension andintensity of Lafite or Latour. Fine at best.Drink 2005-2015
