Château Mouton Rothschild 2021

A seductively fresh and balanced Pauillac First Growth

The estate

It was in 1853 that Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired Château Brane-Mouton at auction. Located in the heart of the Médoc, in the appellation of Pauillac, the estate was renamed Château Mouton Rothschild. In 1924, Baron Philippe de Rothschild took over the reins of the property. A visionary, he decided to initiate bottling directly at the estate and also designed a label for the wine. In 1973 Château Mouton Rothschild became a First Classified Growth. An icon of the Pauillac appellation, Château Mouton Rothschild has produced magnificent Bordeaux wines, known by wine lovers around the world.

The vineyard

Château Mouton Rothschild 2021 is a Pauillac wine that stems from a 90-hectare vineyard, located to the north-west of Bordeaux in the Médoc region. The vines are planted in stony, gravelly soils that capture the heat and restore it during the night, thus helping the grapes ripen. These poor, well-drained soils are lain over clay-gravelly subsoils, lending the wines of Château Mouton Rothschild a certain power, elegance and a tannic structure.

The label

For the 2021 vintage, Château Mouton Rothschild entrusted its label to Chiharu Shiota, a Japanese artist of international renown. Inspired by her visit to the estate, she says she was deeply moved by the intimate relationship between man and nature expressed there. From this emotion was born a new work, Universe of Mouton, where a fragile human silhouette stands in front of a radiant and generous nature. The man, in the background and much smaller than his environment, seems to hold back a cloud, symbol of the delicate balance between humanity and its ecosystem. Poetic and full of meaning, this creation embodies both the exception of the 2021 vintage and Mouton Rothschild's ongoing commitment to unite art and wine.

The vintage

The mildness and humidity of winter favoured an early and even budburst. April was particularly dry and was punctuated by frost periods which did not impact the vineyard, thanks to its location near the Gironde estuary. Despite the coolness and rainfall during May, which slowed down the vegetative development, the optimal flowering period took place under mild temperatures. Although from mid-June to mid-July there was a strong mildew pressure, resulting from unstable stormy conditions, which persisted until the end of the veraison period. The vineyard health benefited from the dry climate in August which ensured that the grapes ripened gradually. Harvested at optimal maturity, the healthy and concentrated grapes reveal a fresh, balanced and structured expression that resonates with the great vintages of the last century.

The blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (89%)

Merlot (10%)

Cabernet Franc (1%).

Château Mouton Rothschild 2021: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour

Deep and intense, the colour reveals subtle purple hues.

Nose

A very elegant nose, combining fruity (blackberry, blackcurrant) and floral (iris) fragrances with notes of spices and cedar.

Palate

A delicious attack precedes a balanced and fresh palate. The palate combines aromas of bigarreau cherry with fine tannins, all leading to a mineral, persistent and fruity finish.