Château Mouton Rothschild - A winery in a class of its own
In the north of the municipality of Pauillac, in the immediate vicinity of Bordeaux, is the Château Mouton Rothschild, one of the world's most famous wineries. The exquisite top-quality wine was recognized as a Premier Cru in 1973 and is now one of the best wines from Europe: when enjoyed, it causes unmistakable emotions to blossom and is held in high esteem by many well-known wine lovers.
The history of the winery goes back to the early 14th century and is characterized by different ownership structures. The agricultural land was once in the hands of the feudal lord Pons de Castillon and has changed hands several times over the years.
The name of the winery dates back to before the 16th century. At that time it was still common to give one's accommodation so-called house names. Several generations found their home in a house that bore the name "Zum Roten Schild" and finally developed into the family name Rothschild.
Unique location
The vineyards, which claim a stately 82 hectares, are 77% Cabernet Sauvignon , 12% with Merlot , 9% with Cabernet Franc and 2% with Petit Verdot stocked. The first wine from the Château Mouton Rothschild is brought to the circles of wine lovers and wine connoisseurs with a number of around 300,000 bottles a year. The special feature of the famous winery: The location of the Château Mouton Rothschild is on a 30 meter high hilltop, the gravel layer resting on a limestone base. The so-called blanket gravel comes from earlier alluvial deposits, which provide optimal conditions for the vines to thrive at Château Mouton Rothschild. Due to the combination of different circumstances such as the barren soil and an advantageous heat balance in this area, the vine plants ripen faster, and the conditions for the aromas are more varied due to the necessarily deeper roots of the plant. These aspects have a positive influence on the variety of aromas in the wine and make it unique, which is reflected in several first-class vintages.
The year 2016 is a very special one for Château Mouton Rothschild. This year, the wine received the full score of a fascinating 100 points from several well-known wine critics at the same time. Not only did Robert Parker's magazine award 100 points, but James Suckling and Antonio Galloni also gave the fine wine full points.
Wine is art
The distinctiveness and exclusivity of the wines is expressed not only by the excellent content, but also by the bottle itself. Since 1945, the label on the wine bottle has been redesigned year after year by a well-known artist, who in return receives a portion of the wine. Among the artists were numerous well-known designers, such as Pablo Picasso in 1973 or Prince Charles in 2004.