Château Mouton Rothschild (Winemaking, Best Vintages 2024)
Step into the exclusive world of Chateau Mouton Rothschild and it’s fabulous wines!
This historical Premier Cru Classe, nestled in the vineyards of Bordeaux, produces some of the priciest and most sought-after bottles in the world.
What’s special about Mouton Rothschild bottles? How are they made, and which are the best vintages to invest in?
In this article, we will explore the chateau’s history, Winemaking Techniques and let you in on the secret of which vintages are the best ones. We’ll also tell you the Smartest Way To Invest In These Elegant Wines.
Further reading
- Interested in wine investment and the exciting opportunities it presents? This Wine Investing Guide will answer all your questions!
- Explore the Classic French Chateauneuf du Pape wine region and its best wines.
A Quick Intro to Chateau Mouton Rothschild
The exquisitely beautiful Chateau Mouton Rothschild is nestled amongst the rolling hills of Pauillac, Bordeaux.
The Chateau has been owned by the Rothschilds since the 1800s and is still run by the family today.
The wines produced here are some of the best in the world, and each bottle is embellished with a specially designed wine label from the world’s most incredible artists.
But to understand the Chateau, let’s first understand it’s history.
The History of Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild, an Englishman from the legendary Rothschild family, bought the Chateau at auction in the mid-19th century. He changed the name from Château Brane-Mouton to Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
The prominent Chateau was left out of the Bordeaux Wine Official 1855 Classification. There is no obvious reason why, as the wine was of high quality, but it was classified as a second growth.
In 1924, a young Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the great-grandson of Nathaniel de Rothschild, took over the wine estate. He was innovative - commissioning the Chateau’s first artistic wine label and moving the bottling process to the grounds of the Chateau.
By 1973, the Chateau was finally, and rightfully, elevated to first growth status.
The daughter of Baron Philipe de Rothschild and Elisabeth de Rothschild, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, inherited the wine estate when her father died in 1988.
In 2014, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild passed away leaving the estate to her three children - Camille Sereys de Rothschild, Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild - who continue to run it today.
In 2020, the Chateau’s long-time executive director, Philippe Dhalluin, retired and Ariane Khaida took over. Khaida was the first woman ever to run a major Bordeaux negociant house.
Besides Château Mouton Rothschild, the Rothschild family owns many other vineyards and wineries, including Château d'Armailhac, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Clerc Milon, Almaviva Winery, Chateau Clarke, Opus One Winery in Napa, Mouton Cadet, and Domaine de Baronarques.
Further Reading:
- Learn all about another historical French chateau - the elegant Chateauneuf du Pape!
Château Mouton Rothschild Winemaking
Chateau Mouton Rothschild’s wine is so exceptional thanks to the unique winemaking process that upholds precision and excellence.
Also read: Mix up a classic Mimosa or a mouth-watering Sangria!
Château Mouton Rothschild Viticulture
The Chateau has an exceptional terroir. It is situated near the banks of the Gironde River, which deeply hydrates the vineyard’s soil.
The 90 hectares of vine are planted on gravelly soil, made up of a mixture of pebbles, clay, stones, and sand. The vineyard is primarily situated atop a hillock called “Plateau de Mouton.”
The Chateau’s vineyard is planted mainly with four Bordeaux grapes - Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.
A small section of the vineyard is planted with the white grapes Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle, and Semillon to produce the rare Aile d'Argent Bordeaux Blanc. The Chateau does not make any varietal wines, though Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant grape variety.
All the grapes are picked by hand and sorted on vibrating tables.
Château Mouton Rothschild Vinification
The Chateau’s vinification process combines tradition with modern technology.
The Chateau uses the natural pull of gravity alone to feed the grapes into the fermentation tanks. This helps to keep the grapes unscathed and protects their high quality.
The vats are made of a combination of stainless steel pillars and traditional oak, built over two conjoining levels. The high-quality French oak vats allow the wine inside to breathe. There are a few stainless steel vats as well.
Next, the wines are matured in new oak barrels. The Chateau uses traditional Medoc methods to mature the wine, including fining the wine with egg-white, which both clarifies and stabilizes the wine.
Read More: Want to learn more about bold red wines from the oldest Italian grape? Here’s a great article on Italian Barbera wine.
Château Mouton Rothschild Wines and Tasting Notes
The Chateau produces three excellent wines, each with their own virtues.
1. Château Mouton Rothschild
This is the Chateau’s Grand Vin - the most highly regarded and well-known of the three wines produced. The annual production for this wine is 16,000 to 18,000 cases. The grapes used in this vintage are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
This great wine has strong tannins from the Cabernet Sauvignon and delicious flavors of black fruit and creme de cassis.
2. Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild
The Chateau’s second wine is made with grapes from the estate’s prestigious first growth vineyard. The grapes are picked from younger vines. 5,000-6,000 cases of Petit Mouton are produced annually.
3. Aile d’Argent
Aile d’Argent is the Chateau’s white wine. It is a fantastic example of a Bordeaux white wine, elegant and delicious. The wine is named after a story that Baron Philippe created for his daughter, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, about a flying teapot called ‘Silver Wing.’
Also Read:
- Check out the most bold and opulent Malbec wines and the best of ruby-red Chiantis in 2022!
- Or perhaps it’s white wine you like - find out the best bottles of Sauvignon Blancand Riesling wine to get hold of!
The packaging of Chateau Mouton wine is as spectacular as the wine itself! Let’s take a look at the wine label tradition at Chateau Mouton.
Chateau Mouton Rothschild Labels
Baron Philippe de Rothschild first commissioned the wine labels to the famous artist Jean Carlu in 1924.
Then, in 1945, the Baron commissioned another wine label to commemorate the end of World War 2, this time to Philippe Julian, an obscure young artist.
Ever since, the Chateau has been collaborating with a new famous artist every year to design something exquisite. A marriage of art and wine, isn’t it? The Chateau has had labels designed by Picasso, Prince Charles, Andy Warhol, Miro, and Salvador Dali as well!
Read More: If you prefer sweet and fruity wines, why not check out these articles on Rose and Zinfandel? They’re guaranteed to make your mouth water!
Though all the wine produced by the Chateau is delicious - here are our very favorite bottles.
Best Bottles of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in 2024
1. Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 1946
This Grand Vin is a work of art in it’s own right. This great wine has notes of leather and unsmoked cigars, coupled with hints of cassis, blackcurrant, and blueberry pie. It is bold, with high tannin levels and high acidity. Pair this fine wine with a traditional Bordeaux lamb dish.
Price of Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 1946: $7176
2. Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 1949
This Chateau Mouton Rothschild wine is powerful and intense. It is a dry red wine with high tannin levels and high acidity. This fine wine has a palate of graphite, creme de cassis, and blueberry pie.
Price of Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 1949: $4928
3. Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 1945
This is an exceptionally rare and treasured bottle of wine. It still tastes sublime, with aromas of unsmoked cigars, creme de cassis, and blackcurrant. It has exceptional length, coupled with strong tannin levels. There are subtle and delicate undertones of candied violets and lead pencil, which add something special to the wine.
Price of Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 1945: $17,046
4. Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2016
This 2016 second vin is fragrant and jammy, with a palate of black fruit flavors, truffle, and notes of candied violets. The wines floral aromas are fresh and light, which is complemented beautifully by the smooth tannins.
Price of Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2016: $367
5. Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2015
Though this is the Chateau’s second wine, it certainly is not secondary in taste or structure. You can taste the oaky notes, from the wine being fermented inside oak vats, as well as flavors of plum, truffle, and cassis. Pair this red wine with a rich venison dish.
Price of Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2015: $338
6. Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2005
2005 was one of the coldest years in over 40 years. This, combined with the dry weather and minimal rainfall, meant that yields were lower than usual. However, this exceptional wine was still produced with strong tannins and fragrant black fruit notes of cassis, candied violets, and blackcurrant.
Price of Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2005: $334
7. Aile d’Argent Blanc du Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 1998
Here we have a rich and delicious dry white wine. This fine wine has ripe fruit flavors of pear and nectarine, with delicately balanced acidity. Pair this bottle with a cheese board or a pork dish.Price of Aile d’Argent Blanc du Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 1998: $164
8. Aile d’Argent Blanc du Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2010
This lovely white wine is striking and complex. The acidity is well-balanced, and combined with the taste of ripe fruit and citrus this wine is refreshing and powerful. It is buttery on the palate.
Price of Aile d’Argent Blanc du Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2010: $137
9. Aile d’Argent Blanc du Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2013
Here we have a buttery and delicious white wine. This bottle has a palate of pear, apricot, and vanilla with a hint of lemon. It is bold and well-balanced - an absolute joy to drink. Pair this Mouton with a roast chicken dish.Price of Aile d’Argent Blanc du Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2013: $142
Investing in Chateau Mouton Rothschild
A Chateau Mouton Rothschild wine is an excellent example of a great investment wine.
The recommended aging period for any Mouton vintage is 15 years and more. This, combined with the high quality of the wine, makes it ideal for wine investment. According to the world-renowned wine critic, Robert Parker, the 1986 vintage Chateau Mouton Rothschild wine can age well for over a century.
The first growth wines from Mouton Rothschild are always in demand and expensive. Many of these bottles sell for several hundred dollars or more as they age and become scarcer. In March 2020, a 12 bottle case of the Mouton Rothschild 2000 vintage was priced around $26,000 (value today), whereas the initial release price of the vintage was just $2,100+.
In 2019, Sotheby’s held charity auctions in New York, Hong Kong, and London. 75 cases of Mouton Rothschild “Versailles Celebration” were auctioned off for a collective $2.7 million.
In particular, the best vintage bottles of the Grand Vin are 1945, 1946, 1953, 1982, 1986, 1995, 1986, 1989, 2000, and 2002. Now that you know which bottles of Chateau Mouton are the best let’s find out the easiest way to invest in this wine.
Invest in Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Other Fine Wines Through Vinovest
Vinovest is a world-class wine investment company that buys, authenticates, stores, and sells your wine for you.
How Does it Work?
Follow these 4 simple steps:
- Sign up on the Vinovest website.
- Invest a minimum of $1,000 into your Vinovest account.
- Fill in a questionnaire about your risk appetite.
- Watch your portfolio grow as you enjoy a glass of Kir Royale cocktail!
The Benefits of Vinovest
1. Best Prices
Vinovest doesn’t use the services of middlemen, which means they can offer you the best below-retail prices - even for the finest wines.
2. Easy Buying and Selling
Thanks to Vinovest’s AI platform, buying your favorite bottle of Champagne is quick and easy. And once you decide the time is right, you can sell your wine to anyone, anywhere!
3. Provenance and Authenticity
Vinovest traces the authenticity and provenance of every bottle bought through them - so you can rest assured knowing your wine is genuine!
4. Specialized Storage
Vinovest’s state-of-the-art warehouses ensure that your bottles of coveted Pomerol wine and Screaming Eagle are kept in perfect conditions, no matter what.
5. Advisory Team
Vinovest combines the expertise of master sommeliers and data scientists to make sure that your portfolio is top-notch.
6. Tax Advantages
Vinovest only charges an annual fee of 2.5% - which is further reduced to 1.9% when your portfolio exceeds $50,000. This fee includes management of your wine portfolio, wine buying and selling, storage, insurance, and fraud detection.
7. Ownership
All the wine that you buy through Vinovest is owned exclusively by you! You can keep your wine, sell it, or gift it to a friend!
The Elegance of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in Your Portfolio
The historical significance, artistry, and the red wine of Chateau Mouton Rothschild are easy to fall in love with.
A bottle of Chateau Mouton Rothschild wine is not only a treat to drink but can be an excellent investment for an experienced enthusiast or a wine enthusiast who is starting to build a wine investment portfolio. So, simply take the leap and sign up with Vinovest today to kickstart your wine investing journey!
