Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2018

The richness of a gourmet and balanced Pauillac grand wine

The estate

In 1853, 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 throughout the world. Today, it is the three children of Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Camille and Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild who preside over the destiny of Château Mouton Rothschild.

The vineyard

Château Mouton Rothschild is a Pauillac wine from an 82-hectare vineyard located northwest of Bordeaux, in the Médoc. The vines, which are 50 years old on average, 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 label

For the 2018 vintage label, Château Mouton Rothschild called on Xu Bing, a renowned Chinese artist and writer. Known for his "square words", a calligraphy combining traditional Chinese appearance and Latin alphabet, Xu Bing explores the fusion of cultures and the poetry of signs. The label subtly illustrates the words "Mouton Rothschild", which gradually reveal themselves, like the aromas of a great wine. This exceptional vintage, with its intense color, remarkable tannic structure, and rare aromatic concentration, perfectly reflects the timeless art of Xu Bing, exhibited in the world's greatest museums.

The vintage

Marked by significant climatic contrasts for the Bordeaux region, 2018 is already in line with the very great years of Château Mouton Rothschild.

The first half of 2018 saw significant rainfall combined with hail episodes. The humidity of the mild spring required all the efforts of the experienced technical teams of Château Mouton Rothschild to maintain the vine in perfect health. The sun that then set in from July, shining until the harvest date, favored an excellent maturity of the berries. Started on September 10 for the red grape varieties, the harvest, which ended on October 3, promised the best. Despite lower yields than usual, the berries showed exceptional sugar richness and very beautiful tannins.

Blend

Cabernet sauvignon (86%), merlot (12%) and cabernet franc (2%),

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Mouton Rothschild 2018

Tasting

Color
The color is intense, dressed in a deep black.

Nose
Intensely aromatic, the nose opens with notes of ripe fruit, evolving into spicy notes with a scent of nutmeg. The freshness of minty notes punctuates the bouquet.

Palate
The attack is smooth, revealing a beautiful amplitude and rich notes of black fruits and spices. With a superb structure with velvety and coated tannins, the wine evolves by providing a sensation of indulgence thanks to its creamy texture. The finish is persistent and of great finesse.