Mouton-Rothschild is famous on so many different levels. From the different artists’ work that adorn each vintage label release, to the exuberant character of the late Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and her father Philippe, to its place in the Bordeaux hierarchy and of course to the utterly wonderful wine it makes.

Originally known as Château Brane-Mouton, it was renamed by Nathaniel de Rothschild in 1853 when he purchased it. Just two years later the great classification of Bordeaux for the Exposition Universelle in Paris was created. Nathaniel had begun a series of sweeping changes to improve the property and its wines and recapture the status for which they had been noted for centuries. But the changes weren’t complete when in 1855 the Médoc classification awarded Mouton-Rothschild status as Deuxième Grand Cru Classé. This lead to a long battle to have Mouton recognised for its true worth, which was finally achieved in 1973 by Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The wine was elevated, the first and only change to the classification ever made. The label of 1973 reads: ‘Premier je suis. Second je fus. Mouton ne change’ – ‘First, I am. Second, I used to be. Mouton does not change’. Fittingly, somehow, 1973 was the year of Picasso’s death, and so it is his painting that adorns this ever-so famous label.

“The Rothschilds of Château Mouton-Rothschild have been some of the most dynamic, visionary figures in the wine world, unwilling to accept second place and perpetually focused on the horizon. Who else could have rewritten the supposedly unalterable 1855 Classification of Bordeaux to join the select inner circle of first-growths?” The Wine Spectator

Although Mouton means ‘sheep’, and the property and its wine label is flamboyantly endowed with a great deal of ram and sheep motifs, the word actually came from ‘small hill’. It is this hill that provides the perfect exposure to the sun for the vines to create the bottled-magic that is Mouton Rothschild.

Each year's labels were designed by a famous artist of the time, Motherwell, Warhol, Setsuko and Francis Bacon to name a few. In 2008 Chateau Mouton Rothschild chose a Chinese artist, Xu Lei in order to capitalise on its popularity with the Asian wine lovers since the number 8 is considered extremely lucky in Chinese culture.

Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, needs little introduction as one of the world's most famous, prestigious and prolific wine regions. The majority of Bordeaux wines (nearly 90 percent of production volume) are the dry, medium- and full-bodied red Bordeaux Blends that established its reputation.

The finest (and most expensive) of these are the wines from the great châteaux of the Haut-Médoc and the Right Bank appellations Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. The former is focused (at the top level) on Cabernet Sauvignon, the latter pair on on Merlot.

The legendary reds are complemented by high-quality white wines based on Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. These range from dry whites to challenge the best from the Burgundy region (Pessac-Léognan is particularly renowned) to the sweet, botrytized nectars of Sauternes.

Pauillac is a prestigious wine appellation located on the Left Bank of the Bordeaux region in southwestern France. Situated along the Gironde estuary approximately 50 kilometers north of Bordeaux city, this commune encompasses roughly 1,200 hectares of vineyards. The appellation was established in 1936 under France's AOC system and is home to three of Bordeaux's five First Growth estates: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, and Château Mouton Rothschild.

The terroir of Pauillac is characterized by deep gravel beds mixed with sand and clay, deposited over millennia by the Gironde estuary. This well-draining soil composition, combined with the maritime climate moderated by the nearby Atlantic Ocean, creates ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, which typically dominates blends here. Merlot and Cabernet Franc serve as complementary varieties, with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec also permitted. The appellation produces exclusively red wines, with many châteaux employing traditional Bordeaux winemaking techniques including oak aging.

Pauillac wines are known for their power, structure, and exceptional aging potential. The high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon contributes intense cassis and blackcurrant flavors, supported by firm tannins and notable concentration. These wines typically display cedar, tobacco, and graphite notes that develop with age, often requiring a decade or more to reach full maturity. The combination of gravelly soils and skilled winemaking produces wines with remarkable depth and complexity that can evolve gracefully for several decades.