Château Mouton Rothschild occupies a unique position in the wine world — the only estate ever to be promoted within the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Originally classed as a second growth, Baron Philippe de Rothschild campaigned for decades until a 1973 decree elevated Mouton to Premier Grand Cru. The estate is planted primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon on deep gravel soils in the northern reaches of Pauillac, producing wines of extraordinary richness and aromatic complexity.
Artist Labels: A Living Gallery of Contemporary Art
Since 1945, each vintage of Mouton has featured a label designed by a major artist: Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, Keith Haring and Jeff Koons are among the contributors. This tradition has made Mouton bottles collectors' items entirely independent of their wine content. The estate also houses the Musée du Vin, one of Europe's most impressive collections of wine-related art and artefacts. These distinctive labels command significant premiums at auction.
Tasting Notes, Key Vintages and Buying Advice
Mouton's style is bold and opulent. Expect cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate, cedar and toasted oak, with firm but yielding tannins that soften over 15 to 20 years. Outstanding vintages include 1945, 1959, 1982, 1986, 2000, 2009 and 2018. Prices for current releases start around €750 per bottle; the second wine, Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, offers comparable grape quality at a significantly lower price point. Buying en primeur or through certified Bordeaux négociants is the safest approach.
