Vinous (90)

Nineteen nighty six wasn't a legendary vintage unlike the season that would follow. The 1996 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon, a product of a fairly warm season, it is not overtly warm in its fruit profile with some lightly botrytised spice character, plus a rose-like scent, apricots and almonds. With just 76g/L of residual sugar it's not the sweetest interpretation, but its joy is its super smooth, refined texture. Medium length.

Vinous (95)

Starting to take on a deep golden hue, the 1997 Moulin Touchais Coteaux du Layon is a sensuous sweet wine (92g/L of residual sugar) that offers ripe and concentrated flavors of apricot jam, cooked oranges botrytis-derived spices (60% of the fruit was affected by botrytis, a high proportion for this wine). It is intense, rich and honeyed, coating the palate with its sucrosity. There's just enough acidity here to keep things going but it does not have the vivacious refreshment of cooler years, providing a weightier, fully charged expression. The finish is lengthy and fragrant.

Embodying the prestige of Southwest France's winemaking, the Moulinet-Lasserre 2017 captivates both the palate and the eye. Handcrafted by Domaine de Moulinet-Lasserre, this elegant vintage boasts of an idyllic blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Born from meticulously tended vineyards located in the heart of the Côtes de Bergerac AOC, it draws a unique mineral resonance and rich fruitiness from the clay-limestone terroir.

Critical to the wine's distinct palette is the wise winemaking process, entailing regulated temperature fermentation and careful maturation in French oak barrels for 18 months. A beautiful dark ruby in colour, with complex aromas of black fruits, spicy notes and a hint of vanilla, the Moulinet-Lasserre 2017 embodies a multilayered presentation that tantalises the senses. On the palate, the wine shows a rigorous structure with fine tannins, presenting a long, elegant finish. This vintage is the exemplification of Domaine de Moulinet-Lasserre's commitment to quality and tradition.

Regarded as a notable testament to fine French winemaking, Moulinet-Lasserre 2018 exemplifies a rich heritage stemming from the distinguished appellation of Côtes de Castillon, Bordeaux. This vintage is the result of meticulous viticulture, hand-harvesting and mindful vinification process, affirming Moulinet-Lasserre's prestige.

Marking an exceptional year, the Moulinet-Lasserre 2018 decants an unblemished balance of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, showcasing beautiful dark fruit aromas and a refined palate, reflecting the calcareous soils that characterise their vineyards. Structured yet subtle tannins indicate promising ageing potential. It bears the distinctive imprint of its creators, the Thienpont family, who remains committed to producing limited quantity, superior wines.

As a fine wine connoisseur, indulge in the Moulinet-Lasserre 2018’s intense, expressive character and complex, lush layers. It remains an exquisite portrayal of its region and a substantial addition to any wine enthusiast's collection.

Please enjoy the Moulinet-Lasserre 2018 responsibly.

Vinous (92)

(made from two-thirds grenache and one-third syrah): Opaque ruby. Heady scents of red berry preserves, lavender, anise and sandalwood, lifted by a peppery topnote. Offers intense, palate-staining raspberry and cherry-cola flavors that gain weight with air. Impressively lively and pure on the persistent finish, which features gentle tannins and a late note of bitter chocolate.

Wine Advocate (93)

Disgorged in November 2024 without dosage yet retaining over six grams per liter of residual sugar, Moussé’s NV Blanc de Noirs Eugène is a perpetual cuvée, composed of 50% wine from the 2022 vintage, with its origins tracing back to 2003. Comprising 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Pinot Noir—whose ripe skins impart a delicate pink hue—it unveils an expressive bouquet of candied orange peel, pear, peach, plum and pastry. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, with a concentrated core of fruit, succulent yet racy acidity and phenolics that lend a gently bitter edge to the long, resonant finish. While the residual sugar lends it a touch more giving style, it represents a considerable step up in complexity from L’Esquisse and comes highly recommended.

Wine Advocate (93)

Disgorged in November 2024 without dosage, the latest release of Moussé’s NV Blanc de Noirs Les Vignes de Mon Village—despite its zero-dosage style—presents a more demonstrative profile, owing to its four grams of residual sugar. Comprising a perpetual cuvée that blends vintages from 2014 to 2022—with 50% from 2022—it opens with expressive aromas of pear, peach and tangerine zest. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, ample and giving, with ripe yet racy acidity and a long, elegantly phenolic finish. As always, it is crafted entirely from Pinot Meunier sourced from Cuisles.

Wine Advocate (93)

Disgorged in November 2024 without dosage, the latest release of Moussé’s NV Blanc de Noirs Les Vignes de Mon Village—despite its zero-dosage style—presents a more demonstrative profile, owing to its four grams of residual sugar. Comprising a perpetual cuvée that blends vintages from 2014 to 2022—with 50% from 2022—it opens with expressive aromas of pear, peach and tangerine zest. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, ample and giving, with ripe yet racy acidity and a long, elegantly phenolic finish. As always, it is crafted entirely from Pinot Meunier sourced from Cuisles.

Wine Spectator (96)

Deep garnet; fragrant tar and black truffle nose; extremely concentrated; big and mouth-filling, with very dense cassis flavor; enormous, generous fruit; a voluptuous claret. -

Wine Advocate (88)

This wine, which was a medium-weight, charming example in its youth, continues to develop well. Recent bottles have been the finest I have tasted of the 1971 Mouton-Rothschild. The color remains a deep dark garnet with some amber at the edge. The wine offers up a classic Pauillac nose of cedar, black currants, and lead pencil aromas. On the palate, it reveals a savory, sweet, cedary, currant flavor profile with good freshness, adequate acidity, and ripe tannin. The wine is fully mature, but is capable of lasting for another 5-10 years. Anticipated maturity: Now-2006. Last tasted 10/97

James Suckling (95)

I absolutely love the nose of licorice, minerals, black currants, and berries. Full and slightly hard and acidic, but I could smell it all night. It softens and turns velvety and dusty on the finish with lots of fruit. Why wait on this? Served from imperial bottle.

Wine Advocate (85)

Medium to dark ruby with some browning at the edges, this wine is approaching maturity and exhibits an interesting, moderately intense bouquet of ripe plums, spicy oak, and leather. Plenty of tannin is still evident, but the overall balance and depth of fruit suggest that the tannin will clearly outlive the fruit. It lacks the depth and concentration to be great, but for the vintage it is a respectable Mouton for drinking over the next decade. I must say that the wine's evolution has been much slower than I would have suspected. Anticipated maturity: Now-2000. Last tasted, 3/89.

Wine Advocate (100)

Over the last couple of years, I had inclined to the view that the 1986 vintage was eclipsing the 1982 Mouton Rothschild, but two perfectly conserved bottles this year put paid to that hypothesis. One of the emblematic wines of the vintage, offering up aromas of sweet crème de cassis, cigar wrapper, espresso roast, spices and vine smoke, it's full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with a rich core of fruit; ripe, supple tannins; and a long, expansive finish. Lavish, even flamboyant, and at the same time seriously structured and quintessentially Mouton, it encapsulates the greatness of the vintage. For readers interested in numbers, the 1982 attained 12.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.64 (that information is the result of a great personal misfortune, because I sent a sample from a tragically corked magnum to the local enology lab for analysis out of curiosity).

Wine Advocate (100)

Over the last couple of years, I had inclined to the view that the 1986 vintage was eclipsing the 1982 Mouton Rothschild, but two perfectly conserved bottles this year put paid to that hypothesis. One of the emblematic wines of the vintage, offering up aromas of sweet crème de cassis, cigar wrapper, espresso roast, spices and vine smoke, it's full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with a rich core of fruit; ripe, supple tannins; and a long, expansive finish. Lavish, even flamboyant, and at the same time seriously structured and quintessentially Mouton, it encapsulates the greatness of the vintage. For readers interested in numbers, the 1982 attained 12.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.64 (that information is the result of a great personal misfortune, because I sent a sample from a tragically corked magnum to the local enology lab for analysis out of curiosity).