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Château Mouton Rothschild is the most opulent of the First Growths of Pauillac – the only estate elevated from Second to First Growth in 1973, owned by the Rothschild family since 1853. On pure gravel soils, a lavish, glamorous Grand Vin of rich cassis fruit and cigar-box aromatics is made, each year with a new artist label. Secure a world-class icon – Grand Vin, Le Petit Mouton or the white wine Aile d’Argent.
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Château Mouton Rothschild is a Premier Cru Classé of the 1855 Classification – the only estate ever elevated from a Second to a First Growth, in 1973. It lies in the Pauillac appellation on the Left Bank of the Gironde and has belonged to the Rothschild family since 1853. On around 84 hectares of red-grape vineyards emerges arguably the most opulent of the Pauillac First Growths – a swirl of rich cassis fruit and cigar-box aromatics that makes it unmistakable. Famous since 1945 are its artist labels. The estate is run by the three grandchildren of the legendary Baron Philippe de Rothschild; Managing Director since 2020 is Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy. The Grand Vin is complemented by Le Petit Mouton and the white wine Aile d’Argent.
Mouton is one of only two classed estates of the Médoc to have remained in uninterrupted family ownership since 1855. The turning point came in 1922 with the arrival of a family member then just 20 years old: Baron Philippe de Rothschild. Through him, then his daughter Baroness Philippine (who died in 2014), and today her three children, Mouton became Bordeaux’s figurehead. It was here, in the 1920s, that full château bottling was introduced – a step that shifted the balance of power in favour of the estates and to the detriment of the négociants. Today, Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, Camille Sereys de Rothschild and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild lead the company; Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy has overseen all three Rothschild estates in Pauillac as Managing Director since 2020.
Mouton’s elevation to First Growth in 1973 was long overdue – as the house’s motto puts it: „Premier je suis, second je fus, Mouton ne change.” Classed as a Second Growth in 1855, the delay owed in part to ownership circumstances in the 16th and 17th centuries that differed from those of the four original First Growths. Today Mouton is an undisputed First Growth – in scarcely a single vintage does it fail to rank among the region’s finest wines.
The Grand Plateau de Mouton – a raised gravel ridge that merges seamlessly into the Grand Plateau de Lafite – holds, at its core, an astonishing 98 per cent gravel and just two per cent clay. This terroir is ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon and explains why the oldest vines (the La Baronne Philippine parcel) are nearly 120 years old – five hectares of old vines, an exceptionally large area by Bordeaux standards.
The vineyards are planted to 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Cabernet Franc truly thrives in Mouton’s terroir only about one year in three, and when it does, it lends the Grand Vin an attractive saline note.
The cellars were entirely rebuilt in 2013: in a 70-metre-long room stand gravity-filled tanks – 20 of stainless steel and 44 of oak – in varying sizes that mirror the estate’s parcel structure. The Grand Vin is aged in 100 per cent new oak. The white wine Aile d’Argent (since 1991, from five parcels) is likewise vinified with the utmost care; a portion of the Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes undergoes malolactic fermentation to enhance texture.
The Grand Vin Château Mouton Rothschild accounts for around 40 per cent of production; certain parcels always go into the Grand Vin, others never do, and some depend on the vintage. The second wine Le Petit Mouton and the white wine Aile d’Argent round out the range. The estate’s holdings also include d’Armailhac and Clerc Milon (both Pauillac), as well as the international joint ventures Almaviva (Chile) and Opus One (Napa). The famous Mouton Cadet brand today sources grapes from 1,300 hectares.
Mouton is the most opulent of the First Growths: a swirl of ripe cassis and black cherry fruit, cigar box, graphite, violets and an almost glamorous richness. With age, leather, tobacco and a multilayered spiciness emerge. Despite all this opulence, the wine possesses the structure and freshness for decades of ageing.
Since the 2013 cellar renovation, Mouton has delivered consistently outstanding quality. Standouts include 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022; legendary vintages include 1945, 1959, 1982, 1986 and 2000.
In great vintages, the Grand Vin ages for forty to fifty years and does not truly unfold until ten to fifteen years at the earliest. Le Petit Mouton is at its peak after eight to twelve years, while Aile d’Argent ages for ten to fifteen years.
European Wine-Searcher listings for current vintages (retail prices incl. VAT, indicative):
An entry point into the style is offered by Le Petit Mouton; the white wine Aile d’Argent is a distinctive rarity in its own right. For collectors, the Grand Vin in great vintages is the strategic position – ideally with an eye to iconic artist labels and secure provenance.
Who owns Château Mouton Rothschild? The estate has belonged to the Rothschild family since 1853, through the Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA. It is run by the three grandchildren, Philippe, Camille and Julien; Managing Director since 2020 is Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy.
What classification level does Mouton Rothschild hold? Mouton is a Premier Cru Classé (First Growth) – the only estate ever elevated from a Second to a First Growth, in 1973.
What is the Grand Vin’s blend? The vineyards are planted to 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot; the Grand Vin is aged in 100% new oak.
What are the second wine and white wine called? The second wine is Le Petit Mouton, and the white wine is Aile d’Argent (since 1991).
What is the story behind the artist labels? Since the 1945 vintage, a different artist has designed the label each year – from Picasso to Chagall and Warhol through to contemporary names. This lends certain vintages additional collector’s value.
What does a bottle of Mouton Rothschild cost? Current vintages of the Grand Vin sell in the European market for around 550 to 850 euros, with mature top vintages considerably higher. Le Petit Mouton starts at around 150 euros.
Mouton Rothschild embodies the opulent, glamorous pole of the First Growths. As the only estate ever to rise within the 1855 ranking, as Bordeaux’s figurehead, and with its world-famous artist labels, Mouton unites uncompromising quality with a cultural allure unmatched by any other estate in the world.
