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Goedhuis, April 2004
A classic Mouton Rothschild with masses of generous, appealing dark fruit, a velvet texture and awesome breadth. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
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Neal Martin, April 2022, Score: 92
The 2003 Mouton Rothschild has a powerful nose with slightly smudged summer fruit, leather, dates, forest floors and a touch of eucalyptus. The palate is medium-bodied and fleshy, with powdery tannins and better acidity than the Clerc Milon. It's quite tertiary, with just a little VA on the roasted coffee bean finish. The question is whether this will go anywhere interesting with further cellaring? Tasted at the château.
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Antonio Galloni, January 2016, Score: 95
A heady, exotic wine, the 2003 Mouton Rothschild takes hold of all the senses. The ripeness and exuberance of the year comes through in spades as this dramatic, opulent wine shows off its radiant personality. The 2003 can be enjoyed now, but it could also use another few years for the tannins to soften. Still, the 2003 is pretty hard to resist today. This is an exceptional, deeply satisfying Mouton endowed with notable richness but also exceptional balance. Hints of toffee, torrefaction and dark spices are laced into the finish. In 2003 the blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, all brought in between a fairly narrow window of ten days between September 15 and 25. 2016-2043
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Robert Parker, August 2014, Score: 91
By no means the strongest of the first-growths in 2003, in fact, the 2003 Mouton is probably the weakest. The selection process that was implemented by new administrator Philippe Dhalluin a few years later had not yet gone into effect. The harvest took place between September 15-25, and the wine shows lots of opulent cassis, a hint of roasted coffee, and an evolved, fully mature style with light tannin in the finish. I wouldn’t push my luck, although it is certainly capable of lasting another decade. There may be a tendency for the tannins to give the wine a more desiccated overall impression five or six years from now.
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Robert Parker, April 2006, Score: 95
Backward, powerful, and extremely tannic, the dense purple-colored 2003 Mouton-Rothschild, a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, fashioned from yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare, with a finished alcohol of 12.9%, improves dramatically with aeration. With full-bodied, meaty, powerful, dry flavors as well as a huge finish, this high class wine should be at its finest between 2012-2040+. During its sojourn in barrel, it reminded me of a hypothetical blend of the 1982 and 1986 Moutons, but since bottling, it appears different, and even more tannic than those two vintages. I still believe the finest recent Mouton-Rothschild is the 2000. Drink: 2012-2040
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Robert Parker, April 2005, Score: 95-96
This massive Mouton-Rothschild is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. A formidable black/purple to the rim, the wine offers up a tight but promising nose of scorched earth, creme de cassis, licorice, and charcoal notes followed by meaty, powerful, unctuous flavors that are huge, dense, tannic, and backward. Last year I thought it was somewhat similar to the 1982, and after nine months of barrel-aging, I have begun thinking of a hypothetical blend of both the 1982 and 1986. Incredibly different from the Lafite-Rothschild, which is so unctuous and plush, this is muscular, backward, and just humongous in size, a true giant from Pauillac. But prospective purchasers be forewarned - patience will be a virtue. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050.
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James Suckling, April 2004, Score: 95-100
Complex aromas of blackberries, citrus and tobacco. Currants. Subtle nose yet complex. You have to look under the surface. Full-bodied, with a big core of ripe fruit and superripe tannins. Thick and powerful. Chewy. Tannins come out of hiding and lash out on the finish. 21,665 cases made.
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Decanter, April 2004
Huge colour, big smoky nose, really seductive and opulent on the palate, tannins that fill the mouth, yet remain finely grained, will be an explosion of fruit as it matures, with a firm Cabernet edge and great freshness. Drink: 2010-2030.
