The estate
In 1853, Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired Château Brane-Mouton at auction. Located in the heart of the Médoc, in Pauillac, he renamed the property Château Mouton Rothschild. In 1924, Baron Philippe de Rothschild took over the running of the estate. A visionary, he decided to start bottling directly on the estate and designed the label of the wine. 1973 marked the year when Château Mouton Rothschild became a Premier Cru Classé. An emblematic reference of the Pauillac appellation, Château Mouton Rothschild has made the fine wines of Bordeaux known throughout the world.
The vineyard
Château Mouton Rothschild is a Pauillac wine made from a 90-hectare vineyard located north-west of Bordeaux, in the Médoc. The vines are planted on gravelly soils that retain heat during the day and release it at night, thus favouring the ripening of the grapes. These nutrient-poor, well-drained soils rest on a clay-gravel subsoil, which gives the wines of Château Mouton Rothschild a unique power, elegance and tannic structure.
The vintage
The result of an atypical vintage full of climatic shifts, Château Mouton Rothschild 2017 is poised amon the top Pauillac Crus. Although the estate deplores the effects of frost on two parcels used in the Aile d'Argent blend, the superb gravelly outcroppings were spared. The vegetative cycle of the vine was carried out in the best conditions, with dry weather favouring the production of small berries concentrated in sugar, filled with anthocyanins and displaying a great aromatic freshness. In line with the great 2015 and 2016 vintages, the 2017 vintage will remain one of those that contributed to the legendary reputation of this iconic property. An utterly promising 2017 vintage.
The blend
Cabernet Sauvignon (90%)
Merlot (9%)
Petit Verdot (1%).
The tasting
Colour
The dark and dense bright colour is adorned with delicate garnet hues.
Nose
The nose is the height of elegance and refinement, revealing all its nobility by blending the purity of wild berry aromas, while aeration allows the Cru to express the fullness of its personality by revealing peppery notes, chiselled by the delicacy of dried flower scents.
Palate
A fresh and precise attack is followed by intense notes of fresh fruit. The mid-palate is structured by polished and coated tannins with a deliciously smooth feel. This distinctive 2017 Mouton Rothschild wine stretches into a long, well-balanced finish, a perfectly executed Pauillac indeed.
The 2017 Mouton Rothschild is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal notes of warm black plums, baked black cherries, kirsch and freshly crushed blackcurrants with hints of candied violets, cinnamon toast, Ceylon tea and pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, the palate is charged with amazing energy, featuring dynamic black and red fruits and loads of baking spice and mineral sparks, framed by ripe, fine-grained tannins and finishing long and fragrant. Given the intensity of fruit and structure, while this is a relatively elegant Mouton that will be approachable early on, I don't see it as being short lived. It should give pleasure for a good 40+ years.