WEINWISSER: "Sehr klassisches, vielschichtiges Mouton-Bouquet mit viel Cassiswürze, Zeder, Edelhölzer, Trüffel und Veilchen. Im Mund mit komplexer, changierender Aromatik, dabei sehr dicht und kraftvoll verwoben, wirkt dennoch fast rassig mit festem Tanninkorsett, das sich über die frische Frucht legt, wunderbar elegant und vielschichtig mit langem Abgang. Ist jetzt im beginnenden Trinkplateau."
WINESPECTATOR: "Aromas of ripe fruit and grilled meat follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a long caressing finish. Very beautiful wine. Mouton shows finesse yet richness in this vintage.--´95/´96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2007."
JANCIS ROBINSON: "Served from magnum. Deep garnet, ruby rim. Fine mineral nose and more reticent than the Margaux 1995 tasted alongside. Firm but paper-fine tannins that slide across the palate. The tannins are just perfect. Melt in the mouth but still giving shape. Starts to open up in the glass but retains that elegance and restraint which is so beguiling. Very long finish. (JH)"
JAMES SUCKLING: "This explodes on the nose with prunes, blackberries, mushrooms and fresh tobacco. Full body, ripe tannins and a juicy finish. Big and powerful. Still could do with a decade or more of aging. "
ANTONIO GALLONI: "(72% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot and 9% cabernet franc- pH 3.68- IPT 64- 12.4% alcohol- 88% new oak- 95% selection for the grand vin): Very dark, fully saturated ruby to the rim. Deep, brooding, rich aromas of blackberry, violet, milk chocolate, black pepper, cedar and incense- sexy and captivating. Bright and focused on entry, then rich, very smooth and suave, with highly concentrated flavors of red berries, dark plum, cedar and graphite. The extremely long, juicy finish features lively acids, great balance and persistent notes of underbrush and minerals. The mounting tannins coat the palate dry and are still years away from resolving fully. Harvested from September 12 through 27, which suggests that the merlot was probably very ripe. According to Tourbier, "We included a bit more merlot than usual because we felt the cabernet sauvignon had particularly tough tannins in 1995 and we didn´t want to risk making too tough or structured a wine. So we used the merlot to soften it up a bit." The estate was so happy with the quality of the wine (and the rather high 95% selection for the grand vin speaks volumes), said Tourbier, that they only made 15 barriques of the second wine Petit Mouton, which was launched with the 1993 vintage. A huge volume year, 1995 was characterized by very fine weather through most of the growth cycle but was marred by September rains."
THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "There is a bit more strictness and severity to the wine that is becoming more apparent over the years. The wine has power, loads of tannin, and the fruit is ripe, but the increasing austerity that is an issue with many 1995 Bordeaux wines is something to take note of."
THE WINEADVOCATE: "Bottled in June, 1997, this profound Mouton is more accessible than the more muscular 1996. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 19% Merlot, it reveals an opaque purple color, and reluctant aromas of cassis, truffles, coffee, licorice, and spice. In the mouth, the wine is "great stuff," with superb density, a full-bodied personality, rich mid-palate, and a layered, profound finish that lasts for 40+ seconds. There is outstanding purity and high tannin, but my instincts suggest this wine is lower in acidity and slightly fleshier than the brawnier, bigger 1996. Both are great efforts from Mouton-Rothschild. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2030."
