Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2001

The structure and freshness of a great Pauillac wine

The estate

It was in 1853 that Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired Château Brane-Mouton at auction. The estate, located in the heart of the Médoc, in Pauillac, was then renamed Château Mouton Rothschild. In 1922, Baron Philippe de Rothschild took over the reins of the estate. A visionary, he decided in 1924 to initiate the complete bottling at the château while entrusting the illustration of the wine label to an artist. Each year since 1945, the label of Château Mouton Rothschild is illustrated by the original work of a great contemporary artist. Dalí, César, Miró, Chagall, Warhol, Soulages, Bacon, Balthus, Tàpies, Koons, Doig... an exciting collection that grows each year with a new work and constitutes the famous exhibition "Art and Label". Emblem of the Pauillac appellation, this Premier Cru Classé makes the great wines of Bordeaux shine around the world. Today, the three children of Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Camille and Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild preside over the destiny of Château Mouton Rothschild.

The vineyard

The Château Mouton Rothschild is a Pauillac wine from a vineyard of 82 hectares located northwest of Bordeaux, in the Médoc. The vines, with an average age of 50 years, are planted on pebbly gravel soils that capture heat and release it during the night, thus promoting the ripening of the grapes. These draining soils rest on a clay-gravel subsoil, giving the wines of Château Mouton Rothschild a unique power, elegance, and tannic structure.

The grape varieties are composed of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc.

The label

For the 2001 vintage, Mouton Rothschild called on Robert (Bob) Wilson, an American artist born in 1941 in Waco. After studying at the University of Texas and the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, Wilson, initially attracted to sculpture and architecture, established himself as a major figure in contemporary art. For this label, he pays tribute to his friend Philippine de Rothschild by creating a vibrant and luminous work. In a symphony of colors, he mixes the green of the vines and the gold of the sun with the nuances of the wine, from light red to deep purple, thus celebrating the richness and poetry of the great vintages.

The vintage

Warm and humid conditions during the first quarter favor early bud break. This advance is subsequently slowed by the high temperatures recorded in May and June. Wet and cooler, July precedes a mild August despite some storms and a September whose lower temperatures slow the evolution of maturities. Finally, the dry, warm and sunny conditions of early October are optimal to ensure good maturities as well as an exceptional health status.

Blend

Cabernet sauvignon (86%)
Merlot (12%)
Cabernet franc (2%).

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Mouton Rothschild 2001

Tasting

Color
The garnet red color is adorned with brilliant reflections.

Nose
Complex, the nose exhales fruity fragrances (blueberry, blackcurrant), smoky but also leather.

Palate
The palate seduces with its structure and freshness. As the tasting progresses, the palate reveals coated tannins and a beautiful aromatic richness up to a persistent and refined finish.