Château Mouton Rothschild 2020

The elegance and aromatic finesse of an exceptional Premier Cru Classé from Pauillac

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 cru's label to an artist. Every 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, the three children of Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Camille and Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild 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 on average 50 years old, 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

Created by British artist of Scottish origin Peter Doig, the label of Château Mouton Rothschild 2020 resembles a personal reverie on the nocturnal birth of a great wine, whose enchanting air of a guitar would awaken to life. A dreamlike landscape, this work celebrates both the culture of the grape and the workers of the vineyards and fields, as previously represented by illustrious artists such as Millet, Van Gogh, or Bacon.

The vintage

A very mild winter and early spring promote an early bud break of the vine. The passage of a snowy front at the end of March does not impact the vineyards. Marked by temperatures above seasonal norms, the spring is punctuated by abundant rainfall, especially at the beginning of May. From mid-May, warm and dry anticyclonic conditions significantly accelerate the vegetative cycle, with flowering 12 days ahead of its usual cycle. If the month of June is contrasted, the month of July is marked by heatwaves and severe drought. The few rainy episodes in August activate the veraison and a uniform development of the berries. Historically early, the 2020 harvest allows the picking of fully ripe grapes in perfect health. Despite lower yields than in recent vintages, the quality is exceptional with fresh, balanced, and dense wines, revealing powerful and beautifully fine tannins.

Blend

Cabernet sauvignon (84%)
Merlot (13%)
Cabernet franc (2%)
Petit verdot (1%).

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Mouton Rothschild 2020

Tasting

Color
Dark and intense, the color is cherry red adorned with garnet reflections.

Nose
Elegant and of beautiful complexity, the nose reveals aromas of perfectly ripe black fruits. During the tasting, the bouquet mixes fragrances of blackcurrant and anise with notes of graphite and blond tobacco.

Palate
Suave and fleshy, the attack reveals fine and precise tannins harmoniously blending with aromas with menthol, mineral, and smoky nuances. The finish exhales, with elegance and exceptional persistence, the cabernet sauvignon, the flagship grape variety of the château.