Château Mouton Rothschild

The Château Mouton Rothschild vineyard, mostly situated on a hillock called the “Plateau de Mouton” which rises to 27m above sea-level, is planted on very deep gravelly soil with the varieties typical of the region: Cabernet Sauvignon (81%), Merlot (15%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (1%). These proportions are not reflected identically in the wine, because the blend varies according to the character of each vintage. However, Cabernet Sauvignon always predominates: it is Cabernet Sauvignon that gives Mouton its rich tannins, its wealth of aroma and flavour and its ageing capacity, while Merlot, an inseparable companion, brings suppleness, roundness and exceptional length. As with other top Médoc wines, the vineyard is densely planted – 10,000 vines per hectare – and the average age of the vines is around 44 years.

Mouton bottles three types of wine on the estate. The highest-end wine is, of course, the eponymous Château Mouton Rothschild itself. Only an average of 40% of the wine produced on the estate is declared good enough to be blended into a bottle of Mouton Rothschild. All of it is harvested from the older First Growth vines and then selected for quality by Philippe Dhalluin, the General Manager.