HERMITAGE SPIRIT

Alles über Wein # 3/2004 : 92-94

Bettane & Desseauve Carnet # 30 : 9/10

Après un échantillon décevant, certainement servi trop chaud le matin au château, un second dégusté le même jour dans l'après-midi a révélé un vin bien plus équilibré et prometteur.Avec un fruit mûr, un corps rond, très moelleux, voluptueux et des tanins très fins, la noblesse aromatique du cru y était parfaitement perceptible, ainsi que son raffinement de texture, mais il ne semblait pas posséder l'assurance de Lafite ni l'extraordinaire présence en bouche de Latour. Nous pensons qu'il était moins évolué dans sa prise de bois, ce qui est toujours un bon signe qui prouve la vigueur de constitution d'un vin.

Decanter # 29-2 : Decanter Award Maturity: 2010-2030

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.

Domaine

The wine has an intense, vivid colour with a lovely violet tint.The nose opens rapidly on very rich aromas, combining juicy ripe fruit, blackberry and crushed blackcurrant with more complex notes of fine oak that usher in aromas of vanilla, mocha and cedarwood.Full on the palate, showing roundness and refinement on nicely present, stylish and well-rounded tannins, it mingles very ripe, almost jammy fruit with touches of toast, caramel and spice, building to a highly expressive finish that has charm, power and length.The style of this Mouton strikes a fine balance between fruit, freshness and elegance.

Jean-Marc Quarin : 17,5 (94)

Rated 94 in 2007-04 from bottle at the estateRated 95 in 2005-09 from bottle at the estateVery beautiful colour. The nose is still unobtrusive for the moment, but it gives a feeling of depth. On the palate, it is ample at the attack, but also very fresh. A well calculated combination of maturity and freshness amplifies the wine in mid-palate where it becomes quite rich. It slowly settles in the second part of the palate, well textured, devoid of coarseness, and very melting and long. Pleasure score: 16.5

Neal Martin's Wine Journal : 93

This is such an enjoyable Mouton: not profound, but then again not everything can possibly be! A superb nose, typically ostentatious with blackberry, ripe black olives, cedar and a touch of tinned prune. The palate is nowhere near as regal as Latour or Lafite and not quite as delineated and poised as Pichon-Baron ’03. But it does have layer upon layer of saturated ripe black cherries and cassis towards the almost hedonistic finish. A bit dumb…but sexy. Tasted April 2008.

Parker # 164 : 95+ Maturity: -2040

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.

The Wine Doctor # web : 18+/20

Dark and already deepening in hue, and taking on a more mature, matt appearance. But certainly still vibrant in character. The nose is wonderful - with huge, dark, deep and intense aromas. There are traces of coffee, a massive depth of fruit and a pickling spice complexity, and is there a little alcohol evident here also? It has an appealing and cool style on entry, although it is full and textured. It is seductive and yet firm at the same time. It has the textural quality of the vintage, very polished in style but also firm and rich in alcohol. But the flavours, of dried fruits, are good, and there is punchy grip on the finish. Really very good, although not the purity or finesse of some other recent vintages.

Wein Gourmet # 2/2004 : 93-95

Weinwisser (René Gabriel) # 4/2004 : 19/20 Maturity: 2014-2045

Wine Spectator (James Suckling) # web : 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.