2010 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac (375 mL) Half-Bottle

First Growth Château Mouton Rothschild has earned so much praise over the years that it’s rare to find a rave that doesn’t just blend in with the rest. But Decanter’s Ian D’Agata managed to say something about the 2010 that cut through it all:

“If you and your friends were to splurge on just one wine in your life, this would be a fine choice.” 

ONE wine in your life. That’s praise that goes way beyond a “mere” 100-point score—which D’Agata bestowed on the glorious 2010 Mouton as well, joining a cadre of internationally renowned critics, including his Decanter colleague Jane Anson MW, James Suckling, and Antonio Galloni of Vinous, who called it “a wine of noble bearing and exceptional beauty.”

Grown in one of the greatest vintages Bordeaux has ever seen, with label art from legendary American artist Jeff Koons, this is one of the most extraordinary wines that Mouton has ever produced. It’s got incredible density and power, complexity like an intricate novel, and suave, glamorous fruit welded to an iron structure that should assure near-immortality. 

Wine Spectator called the 2010 vintage a “modern classic” and the 2010 Mouton displays the character that made the year so appealing. After a cool, wet start, the vintage kicked into gear in June, with a warm, dry summer offset by cool nights that lasted through August—a combination that allowed for spectacular ripeness balanced by fresh acidity and muscular tannins. Finally, a perfectly timed sprinkling of rain before the home stretch allowed for long hang-times and the chance for châteaux to pick at the optimal moment.

This result is an all-time great Bordeaux.