2008 Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux

Tasting at Mouton is an entertaining affair, with top-of-the-range golf buggies driven by chic ladies clad all in black brought in to ferry the trade from Check In to the hallowed halls of the Departure Lounge. The château seems to feel the need to impress but there really is no need – the wine does this all on its own in 2008. With a dense, dark nose and juicy, brooding fruit, the 2008 Grand Vin is a wine of which the Baroness can be proud. Quite clearly one of our favourite of the First Growths this year, it has a lovely, savoury minerality that gives it elegance, despite its power. This is a wine of gravitas with layers upon layers of dark fruit coating fine tannins with an almost glycerol-like texture. It is encouraging to see that Mouton has once again performed superbly in 2008; this is one of the top wines of the vintage.
Simon Staples, Berrys' Fine Wine Director