Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, 1st classified growth, Bordeaux, 2004
Tasting
Technical characteristics
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Estate: Mouton Rothschild
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Classification: 1st classified growth
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Type: Red wine
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Country: France
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Region: Bordeaux
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Sub-region: Médoc
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Appellation: AOC Pauillac First classified growth
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Vintage: 2004
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Format: Bottle 75 cl
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Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
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Soils: " gravel" pebbles and gravel that retain the heat of the sun, mixed with partly clayey sands
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Harvest: manual with sorting in the vineyard
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Harvest date:
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Aging:
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Viticulture:
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Peak: 2020 to 2036
Terroir
Château Mouton Rothschild has 90 hectares of vines in the Northwest of Bordeaux, on the edge of the Médoc peninsula itself located, as its name indicates, in medio aquae, in the middle of the waters: to the East the estuary of the Gironde, to the West the Atlantic Ocean. The Médoc vineyard, which dates back to Roman times, currently covers an area of about 16,500 hectares. It is planted on a narrow strip of land 80 km long and 5 to 10 wide, close to the river that irrigates it deeply and moderates temperature fluctuations. Backed by the northern tip of the Landes forest, it benefits from the mildness of the oceanic climate while being protected from its excesses.
A gravel soil
Composed of "gravel", pebbles and gravel that retain the heat of the sun, mixed with partly clayey sands, the soil of the Médoc is poor, even unsuitable for any cultivation – except to produce the greatest wines in the world! The lean and poor gravels descend several meters deep, resting on a marl-limestone base. Elegant, powerful red wines rich in tannins and with great aging potential are harvested here.
The relief
The relief consists of a series of "humps" generally less than 40 m in altitude, separated by low areas. These slight slopes favor natural drainage and sunlight. Often the humps bear the best vines, hence the name of some famous châteaux: that of Mouton probably does not come from the animal but from motte or "mothon", which meant a mound of earth in Old French, while Lafite evokes the summit and Cos d'Estournel the slope.
History of the Château
Owned in the 18th century, along with Lafite and Latour, by the "prince of vines" Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur, then by the Barons de Brane who called it Brane-Mouton, Château Mouton Rothschild took its current name after its acquisition in 1853 by Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild, from the English branch of the famous dynasty. For a long time, despite the increasingly recognized quality of its wine, Mouton hardly aroused any interest from its owners, who were reluctant to visit a region then impoverished. It was therefore a fortunate day when in 1922, just twenty years old, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, great-grandson of Baron Nathaniel, took the reins of a estate to which he would dedicate his life.
Baron Henri de Rothschild (1872-1947) Doctor and philanthropist, Baron Henri de Rothschild financed several hospitals as well as the research of Pierre and Marie Curie, and successfully ventured into industry. Passionate about theater, he wrote nearly twenty plays and built the Pigalle theater in Paris.
In 1988, upon the death of the baron Philippe, his only daughter Baroness Philippine de Rothschild inherited a treasure, shared with her three children Camille, Philippe and Julien, but also a heavy responsibility. A renowned actress, she ended her career on stage to continue her father's work, while resolutely bringing Mouton and the family company, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, into the 21st century.
REAFFIRMING THE LINK BETWEEN MOUTON AND ART
Since 1981, she has revealed to the public the original works illustrating the labels of the First Growth as part of a traveling exhibition, “ Mouton Rothschild – Art and the Label ”. Since then, this exhibition has been warmly welcomed in more than forty museums around the world.
ENSURING THE EXCELLENCE OF MOUTON'S GREAT WINE...
... while making the best use of the entire estate. She thus dedicates a few hectares of the estate to the production of a high-quality dry white wine, Aile d’Argent, launched in 1991. Then she creates in 1993 a Second Wine: Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, which quickly finds its place and market.
CONTINUING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GREAT BLEND WINES
This will be done following the Mouton model, on promising terroirs outside Bordeaux. Opus One, in California, was endowed in 1991 with a magnificent winery ; it became a global star, while a new partner, Constellation Wines, succeeded Mondavi.
In Chile, this time associated with the Chilean winemaker Concha y Toro, Baroness Philippine launched in 1997 with the same success another great red wine: Almaviva, soon equipped with its equally magnificent bodega.
In Pays d’Oc, attentive to the potential of a region closer but still little known worldwide, she created in 2003 Domaine de Baronarques, which is making its way in red and also in white.
COMPLETELY RENOVATING THE WORKING TOOL
After the opening in 1993 in Saint-Laurent-Médoc, near Pauillac, of an ultramodern winemaking center for Mouton Cadet and other wines of the brands signed by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Baroness Philippine turned to the châteaux: a new Clerc Milon emerged in 2011 while at Mouton a splendid vat room combining tradition and technical progress came into service in 2012, with a tasting room opening onto the vines. These two buildings were designed and realized by scenographer Richard Peduzzi and Bordeaux architect Bernard Mazières, in close consultation with Philippe Dhalluin, General Director in charge of the Châteaux of the family company.
Source: Château Mouton Rothschild