Description

Château Mouton Rothschild, in Pauillac, has commissioned a different artist for its label every year since 1945. Classified Second Growth in 1855, it was elevated to Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1973. The blend is built on Cabernet Sauvignon from gravel soils next to Lafite.

The vintage 1964. 1964 brought a warm summer but October rain in the Médoc; it is a rare, historic vintage, now fully mature, to open for the occasion rather than for keeping.

Mouton is the most exuberant of the Pauillac First Growths: cassis, cedar and cigar box, coffee and sweet spice, on a broad, generous frame. In older vintages these give way to leather, forest floor and dried fruit.

Service & pairing. A mature, historic bottle: stand it upright for 24 hours, decant just before serving at 16–17 °C, and drink within the hour. Pair simply, with roast fowl, a fillet of beef or mature hard cheese, and let the wine speak.