Château Mouton Rothschild 2016

A Pauillac wine with an exceptional density and aromatic brilliance

The estate

In 1853, Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired Château Brane-Mouton at an auction. Located in the heart of the Médoc, in Pauillac, he renamed the estate Château Mouton Rothschild. In 1924, Baron Philippe de Rothschild took over the running of the estate. A true pioneer, he decided to start bottling directly on the estate and designed the label of the wine. 1973 marked the year when Château Mouton Rothschild became a Premier Cru Classé. Iconic in the Pauillac appellation, Château Mouton Rothschild has made fine Bordeaux wines shine throughout the world.

The vineyard

Situated to the north-west of Bordeaux, in the Médoc, Château Mouton Rothschild’s vineyard spreads across 90 hectares. The vines are planted on gravelly soils that retain the heat and release it during the night, thus favouring the ripening of the grapes. These poor, draining soils rest on a clay-gravel subsoil, giving this fine Pauillac wine a unique powerful, elegant and tannic structure.

The label

For the 2016 vintage label, Château Mouton Rothschild chose South African artist William Kentridge, known for his "political art" blending humor and poetry. Born in 1955 in Johannesburg, Kentridge is famous for his animated charcoal drawings, videos, and committed works. Inspired by history and the great masters, he created for this vintage The Triumphs of Bacchus, a procession of bacchic silhouettes evoking Titian and Matisse. This work perfectly illustrates the duality of wine: a refined pleasure rooted in a rich cultural tradition, like the exceptional Château Mouton Rothschild 2016.

The vintage

A very wet winter and spring preceded an extremely dry summer and autumn. The high temperatures in summer led to water stress and resulted in small, concentrated grapes, these weather conditions also favoured a slow, high-quality ripening process. Harvesting began on September 26th with the Merlot and ended on October 14th. The density and aromatic richness of the 2016 vintage can thus be compared to the 21st century’s finest vintages.

The blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (83%)

Merlot (15%)

Cabernet Franc (1%)

Petit Verdot (1%).

Château Mouton Rothschild 2016: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour

This wine is a beautiful cherry red colour, dark and intense.

Nose

Delicate and aromatic, the nose reveals fragrances of ripe black fruits (blueberries, blackcurrants) and flowers. When aerated, peppery and spicy notes emerge along with elegant notes of graphite and light tobacco.

Palate

Full and generous, this wine seduces the palate with its silky and enfolding tannins. Black fruit aromas are combined with notes of cocoa and biscuits. On the finish, the wine is round and reveals a delicious aromatic persistence.