“The palate is beautifully balanced with enormous depth”
We are pleased to offer this rare and fine bottle of the 1961 vintage from Chateau Mouton Rothschild. This wine is undoubtedly one of the finest bottles produced from this legendary vintage for Bordeaux.
Mouton Rothschild is the epitome of opulence and luxury. Their wines offer a wealth of aroma, rich tannins, flavour, and aging capacity. For this reason, they are considered one of the finest producers in Bordeaux, and arguably the world. And this bottle is a part of their history.
TASTING NOTES
“A bottle that had been decanted 12 hours previously and, although there was the tiniest suggestion it has not been freshly opened, was absolutely stonking. So rich, sweet and concentrated yet with no dryness at all. Absolutely luscious. So round – and actually livelier than the 1959 served alongside that had been decanted only a couple of hours before.”
– 20/20 Jancis Robinson (tasted 2015)
“The 1961 Mouton-Rothschild is one of those elusive wines that until now I have never tasted. Deep in colour with remarkably little ageing on the rim, it has a stunning bouquet with blackberry, briary and wild heather aromas. Graphite and leather emerge with time, after five minutes matching the ethereal quality of the Palmer. The palate is beautifully balanced with enormous depth, subtle marine scents infusing the black fruit, later freshly picked mint. There is an effervescent quality about this Mouton-Rothschild, a supremely gifted wine that dares to challenge the supremacy of the 1961 Latour. What a fabulous wine.”
– 98/100 Neal Martin (tasted 2019)
VINTAGE REPORT
1961 was a legendary year for Bordeaux, with Mouton sitting as one of the finest examples.
The growing season was near perfect from start to finish. Warm sunny days continued into the summer months until some welcome rain eventually fell in July. After the rainy spell, the weather amped up, delivering hot days throughout August and September and a stunning Indian summer ushered the grapes to phenolic ripeness. The berries, as a result, were tiny and richly concentrated and the harvest was picked in perfect conditions.
The resulting wines were fantastic and, at the time of their release, heralded as being rich and powerful with the capacity to age.
TERROIR
Mouton Rothschild has its vineyards on the slopes leading down to the Gironde Estuary on the edge of the Medoc peninsula. Today, it covers 222 acres of vines, mostly of Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The vines are planted on a narrow strip of land which is 80km long, and 5-10km wide, close to the river, which irrigates the soil in depth and moderates differences in temperature. They border the Landes forest to the north, so whilst they benefit from the ocean climate, they are also protected by its excesses.
PRODUCER PROFILE
Chateau Mouton Rothschild is a First Growth estate in the village of Pauillac, within the Medoc region of Bordeaux. They were actually the only Frist Growth chateau to be classified after the official classification of 1855. They were elevated to this status in 1973 after extensive lobbying from their powerful and influential owner, Baron Philippe de Rothschild.
At harvest, grapes are hand-picked and placed in open baskets to keep them intact. After destemming, they are hand sorted, demonstrating the attention to detail throughout the process. They are then stored in oak vats, before maturing in new oak barrels. This process lasts for around 20 months.
The ambition of Mouton is for it to be a place of art. The harmonious buildings, and open green spaces are in perfect symmetry. It is a building of grandeur, with the Grand Chai and the Museum of Wine in Art, being sights of splendour. They have strong links with the history of art, for example, incorporating the works of artists into their historic labels. The Chateau also has a ‘Paintings for Labels’ room including the original works of art selected by Philippe for their bottles. This includes the work of Jeff Koons, David Hockney, Andy Warhol and Wassily Kandinsky.
Mouton Rothschild is the epitome of opulence and luxury. Their wines offer a wealth of aroma, rich tannins, flavour, and aging capacity. For this reason, they are considered one of the finest producers in Bordeaux, and arguably the world. Visiting the Chateau is unforgettable.
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