Château Mouton Rothschild - Pauillac | 1er Grand Cru Classé (First Growth)

Château Mouton Rothschild is a wine estate located in the village of Pauillac in the Médoc region, 50 km (30 mi) north-west of the city of Bordeaux, France. Originally known as Château Brane-Mouton, its red wine was renamed by Nathaniel de Rothschild in 1853 to Château Mouton Rothschild. In the 1920s it began the practice of bottling the harvest at the estate itself, rather than shipping the wine to merchants for bottling elsewhere.
Mouton Rothschild was always a First Growth Bordeaux wine property in the eyes of the Baron. However, it was considered a Second Growth when the Classification took place in 1855. After existing for over 100 years without a single change, nobody believed the Classification would ever change.
That is nobody except the Baron. He became the only person to succeed in changing the 1855 classification: Château Mouton Rothschild became officially a “Premier Cru Classé” (First Classified Growth).
The 75 hectare vineyard of Chateau Mouton Rothschild is planted to 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. This shows a slight change in the vineyard since the mid 1990’s marked by a slight reduction in the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, along with an increase in the Merlot.
To produce the wine of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, the wine is vinified in 64 large, temperature controlled wood, 225 hectoliter vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank.
Chateau Mouton Rothschild is always aged in 100% new, French oak barrels for an average of 19 to 22 months.

TASTING NOTES:
The wine has a beautifully intense, garnet hue and a highly refined nose, rather typical of Cabernet, on aromas of blackcurrant and cedarwood along with caramel and stewed fruit. The attack is lush, the palate rich, on stylish, well-rounded tannins; fruit flavours rub shoulders with spice, Havana cigar and eucalyptus. The finish is very expressive, long and powerful, harmonious and silky.