Chateau Mouton Rothschild

Château Mouton Rothschild is the only estate ever promoted within the 1855 classification, and every vintage since 1945 carries an artist's label. Buy online with documented provenance.

About Château Mouton Rothschild

Mouton lies on the northern gravel of Pauillac, next to Lafite, and was bought by Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild in 1853, two years before the classification that ranked it second growth. Baron Philippe de Rothschild took charge in 1922 at the age of twenty and spent half a century arguing for promotion, which finally came in 1973. He also introduced château bottling for the whole crop in 1924, a practice the rest of the Médoc eventually copied. The blend leans heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon and the wine is richer and more overt than its neighbors. Le Petit Mouton is the second label and Aile d'Argent the estate's white.

Pauillac holds three first growths within a few kilometres of each other. Our Pauillac Wines and Bordeaux Wines pages cover the neighboring châteaux, and Cabernet Sauvignon follows the grape further afield.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Mouton promoted to first growth?

Because Baron Philippe de Rothschild campaigned for fifty years and the wine's quality and price had long matched the first growths. The 1973 decree remains the only amendment ever made to the 1855 list. The estate's motto changed to mark it, from a line about being unable to be first to one that begins "Premier je suis".

Who designs the Mouton labels?

A different artist each vintage since 1945, when Philippe Jullian marked the end of the war. Picasso, Warhol, Bacon, Chagall, Miro, Freud and Koons have all contributed. Artists are paid in wine rather than money, and the label makes certain vintages collectible in their own right.

What is Le Petit Mouton?

The second wine, introduced in 1993, made from younger vines and lots not selected for the grand vin. It drinks earlier and costs a fraction of the price.

How long does Mouton Rothschild age?

Strong vintages want fifteen to twenty years and run past fifty. Mouton is the most opulent of the Pauillac firsts, which makes young bottles tempting, but the wine gains a great deal in the second and third decade.

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