Château Mouton Rothschild 1988

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Mouton Rothschild 1988

Tasting

Color
Beautiful red color, adorned with coppery reflections.

Nose
Opening on toasted and floral fragrances (lily), the nose exhales notes of caramel, blond tobacco, licorice and vanilla.

Palate
A generous and ample attack precedes a palate whose power and freshness are supported by tasty notes of kirsch, menthol and coffee.

The smoothness and structure of a Premier Cru Classé from Pauillac

The property

It was in 1853 that Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired Château Brane-Mouton at auction. The property, 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 property. Visionary, he decided to initiate in 1924 the complete bottling at the château while entrusting the illustration of the cru 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 a 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 1988 vintage, Mouton Rothschild invites Keith Haring, an American painter and sculptor born in Pennsylvania, an emblematic figure of the East Village art scene in New York in the 1980s. Known for his graphic and bold style, Haring offers a mischievous interpretation of the theme of dancing rams, emblems of Mouton. His drawing, full of dynamism and irony, perhaps also evokes the official coat of arms of the château, revisited with humor and modernity. True to his universe, Haring infuses a vibrant and playful energy, giving this label a contemporary touch full of vitality.

The vintage

Mild and wet winter conditions stretch into spring, promoting an early bud break of the vine. The flowering is quick and homogeneous despite the heavy rainfall of the first 6 months of the year causing a high sanitary pressure controlled by the rigor of the teams. The particularly dry summer is punctuated by a few showers in early September, ensuring optimal ripening of the berries.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (75%)
Merlot (13%)
Cabernet Franc (10%)
Petit Verdot (2%).