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Location:
Chateau
Mouton
Rothschild
has
a
magnificently
complete
expanse
of
vineyard
on
the
slopes
leading
down
to
the
Gironde
Estuary.
Mouton
Rothschild
is
to
the
northwest
of
Pauillac
Size:
188
acres
producing
20-25,000
cases
Classification:
First
Growth
(as
of
1973)
Vineyard:
80%
Cabernet
Sauvignon
10%
Cabernet
Franc,
8%
Merlot
and
2%
Petite
Verdot.
The
vineyard
is
mostly
gravel
on
a
subsoil
of
marl
and
clay.
Vines
are
planted
8,000
to
10,000
per
hectare.
Average
yield
per
hectare
is
35
hectoliters.
Pruning
is
Guyot
Double
Medocaine
Vinification:
Strict
interpretation
of
classic
ways:
wooden
vats,
severe
selection
of
grape
clusters.
No
added
yeast;
3
weeks
maceration;
28-30C
temperature
of
fermentation;
100%
new
oak
barrells
for
23-24
months.
Portion
of
first
pressing
sometimes
included
in
lighter
vintages.
Fining
-
fresh
egg
whites.
History:
Mouton
has
few
peers
in
the
length
and
luster
of
its
history.
The
famous
Barons
de
Brane
owned
the
already
well
known
vineyard
in
the
18th
and
early
19th
centuries
when
it
was
known
as
Chateau
Brane-Mouton.
It
was
purchased
by
Nathaniel
de
Rothschild
of
London
in
1853
who
renamed
it
to
Chateau
Mouton
Rothschild,
and
is
now
owned
by
Philippine
de
Rothschild,
his
great-great
granddaughter.
Mouton
always
in
the
forefront
of
the
greatest
wines
of
Bordeaux,
was
the
first
estate
to
begin
complete
chateau-bottling
of
the
harvest
--
an
historic
step
initiated
in
1924
by
the
late
Philippe
de
Rothschild.
It
is
the
only
chateau
in
theMedoc
Classification
of
1855
to
achieve
reclassification.
In
1973,
it
was
finally
moved
from
a
second
growth
to
a
first.
In
1926,
he
commissioned
architect
Charles
Sicils
to
build
the
famous
"Grand
Chai".
In
1962,
Philippe
de
Rothschild
created,
with
his
wife
Pauline,
the
Museum
of
Wine
and
Art",
in
which
is
displayed
a
priceless
collection
of
exhibits
relating
to
wine
and
the
vine,
from
the
dawn
of
civilization
up
to
modern
times
Style:
Luscious
black
currant
flavored
Cabernet
fruit
makes
Mouton
beguilingly
easy
to
drink.
Rich
complex
flavors,
powerful
ripe
tannins
and
an
extremely
long
finish
are
all
hallmarks
of
this
wine.
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