Château Mouton-Rothschild 1er Cru Classé 2015

Region and Vineyards

Château Mouton Rothschild is situated in the heart of Pauillac, on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, and enjoys Premier Grand Cru Classé status—granted in 1973 after a historical reclassification campaign led by Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The estate's 75 hectares of vineyards lie on a distinctive gravel rise (“motte”), from which the name "Mouton" is believed to originate. These deep gravel soils, layered with sand, clay, and limestone, offer ideal drainage and heat retention, fostering optimal ripening for Cabernet Sauvignon, the dominant grape of the estate.

The vines average 50 years of age and are planted at 8,500 vines per hectare, contributing to the wine’s complexity and concentration. The 2015 vintage was shaped by low rainfall from February to July, yielding small berries with intense aromatic concentration. Timely rains in August and September revived the vines and allowed for extended hang time. Harvesting took place from 14 September to 2 October, parcel by parcel, ensuring each variety and plot was picked at peak maturity.

Winemaking

The 2015 blend consists of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, fermented in traditional 225-hectolitre wooden vats, with a maceration period lasting between 15 and 25 days. Aging occurred over approximately 22 months in 100% new French oak barrels, a hallmark of Mouton’s luxurious style and commitment to precision élevage.

This vintage’s moderate alcohol level (13.2%) underscores its structural harmony and classical balance. The wine was bottled in mid-2017, following a slow, controlled maturation aimed at softening the wine’s powerful tannins and developing its richly layered aromatic profile.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep, almost opaque garnet with purple reflections.
• Aroma: Intensely aromatic, with wild blackberry, cassis, incense, pencil shavings, and floral overtones. Layers of spice, sandalwood, and dried roses unfold with air.
• Palate: Rich, full-bodied, and refined, with creamy, polished tannins and a velvety mid-palate. Ripe black fruits intermingle with graphite and tobacco. A saline lift and vivid freshness carry through an exceptionally long and mineral finish.

Did you know?

Since 1945, Château Mouton Rothschild has commissioned a different artist each year—including Picasso, Dali, Miró, Chagall, and Jeff Koons—to design the label for its grand vin. The 2015 label features the work of renowned German artist Gerhard Richter, celebrating both the wine’s artistic and viticultural heritage.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Wagyu ribeye with truffle jus – amplifies the wine’s opulent mouthfeel and savoury depth.
• Lamb shoulder confit with rosemary and lavender – echoes the wine’s herbal and spice-laced complexity.
• Roasted duck breast with cherry glaze – matches the dark fruit core and silkiness of the tannins.
• Aged Gouda or Ossau-Iraty – complements the graphite and nutty finish of the wine.

History of Château Mouton Rothschild

The estate’s origins trace back to the early 18th century, but its modern legacy began in 1853, when Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild, from the English branch of the Rothschild family, purchased Château Brane-Mouton and renamed it Mouton Rothschild. Despite being excluded from the top tier of the 1855 Bordeaux Classification—ranked as a Second Growth—Mouton would famously defy this hierarchy.

It was under the leadership of Baron Philippe de Rothschild (1902–1988) that Mouton’s status transformed. A bold and modernizing figure, Baron Philippe introduced several revolutionary changes to Bordeaux winemaking: in 1924, he was the first to bottle the wine entirely at the château (mise en bouteille au château), a now-standard practice. In 1945, he inaugurated the tradition of commissioning a contemporary artist to design each vintage’s label—a practice that continues today with works from the likes of Picasso, Miró, Warhol, and Koons.

After a decades-long campaign led by Baron Philippe, Château Mouton Rothschild was officially elevated to Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1973, the only revision ever made to the original 1855 Classification—a testament to its exceptional quality and the Rothschild family’s influence.

Today, the estate is managed by his daughter, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild’s descendants, under the umbrella of Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A., with Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild playing a leading role in artistic and brand direction, and Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy serving as technical director since 2020.

Region and Vineyards

Château Mouton Rothschild is situated in Pauillac, in the northern Médoc on Bordeaux’s Left Bank. The vineyard covers 75 hectares (185 acres) and sits atop a prominent gravelly rise (“motte”), which lends the estate its name (“Mouton” possibly deriving from the Old French motte, meaning hillock). The soils are composed of deep Günzian gravels with excellent drainage, laid over limestone, marl, sand, and clay substrata.

This exceptional terroir is ideally suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 80% of the plantings, along with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The average vine age is over 50 years, and vine density is 8,500 vines per hectare, promoting low yields and high concentration. Each parcel is vinified separately, allowing precise expression of site and variety.

The estate is farmed sustainably, with increasing emphasis on biodiversity and soil health. The unique microclimate of the estate allows for consistent ripening, even in challenging vintages, and contributes to the distinctive minerality and structure of Mouton’s wines.

Wine Range of Château Mouton Rothschild

The flagship wine is Château Mouton Rothschild, a Premier Grand Cru Classé red wine, typically dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Merlot and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine is aged for about 22 months in 100% new French oak barrels, and no detail is spared from vine to bottle. Mouton Rothschild is renowned for its depth, concentration, complex aromatics (graphite, blackcurrant, cedar, exotic spice), and extraordinary aging potential, with great vintages maturing gracefully over 40+ years.

Mouton Rothschild also produces:

• Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild – the estate’s second wine, launched in 1993, made from younger vines and parcels not selected for the grand vin. It offers a more approachable expression of the estate’s character.
• Aile d’Argent – a rare dry white wine made from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and occasionally Muscadelle, sourced from a small dedicated vineyard. Known for its finesse, freshness, and aging potential, it reflects Mouton’s savoir-faire in white winemaking.
• Mouton Cadet – a widely distributed, branded wine originally created in 1930 by Baron Philippe as an accessible Bordeaux wine. It is no longer directly linked to the grand vin’s terroir but remains part of the broader Rothschild family wine portfolio.

Each vintage of the grand vin carries a bespoke label designed by a renowned contemporary artist, reinforcing the house’s fusion of art and viticulture. Mouton is not just a wine—it is a curated experience of heritage, luxury, and cultural expression.

Did you know?

Château Mouton Rothschild’s 1982 and 1986 vintages are considered among the greatest Bordeaux wines ever made. The 1982 vintage, in particular, helped cement the modern reputation of Bordeaux and was a favourite of critic Robert Parker, playing a pivotal role in his career and in Bordeaux’s commercial renaissance. Also, the museum at the château, the Musée du Vin dans l’Art, houses an extraordinary collection of wine-related art and artefacts from antiquity to modernity, symbolising the deep cultural dialogue between wine and civilization.