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 The fresco for the Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2012 First Growth from Bordeaux, selected by the late Baroness revisits the Château’s historical emblem. Its two rams, symmetrical and face-to-face, are a reminder that the balance and harmony of a great wine, already present in nature, still set a challenge to be met by the work of human hands.
Since 1945, her late father Baron Philippe de Rothschild had started the tradition of engaging a renowned artiste and the painting was then converted into a label-a practice since copied by a few other wineries in the world since. Famous painters and sculptors are usually handpicked for the honour. For instance, the 1973 was signed by Pablo Picasso; an earlier 1970 was the work of Marc Chagall. The artist for the 2004 vintage was HRH Prince Charles.
Even an Indian figures in the list of Artists. The highly regarded vintage of 2009 has a label originally painted by the London-based artiste of Indian descent, Anish Kapoor who perhaps still enjoys the Chateau wine several cases of which were gifted to him and traditionally to all the other artists by the late Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and before her by her father Baron Philippe de Rothschild. As a tradition, the artists are not paid but are gifted cases of the Chateau wines, especially the vintage for which they designed the posters.
 Her son from the first marriage Philippe Sereys de Rothschild who has now succeeded her as Chairman of the family company’s Supervisory Board, is expected to continue the tradition and sign the much talked about and controversial 2013 vintage and beyond. Her other two children, Camille Ögren and Julien de Beaumarchais, work closely with him.
The Premier Cru Classé, Château Mouton Rothschild comprises 84 hectares (207 acres) of vines at Pauillac in the Médoc, planted with the varieties typical of the region: Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Merlot (16%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (1%).
The original paintings are displayed in a special room at the winery and are occasionally taken out to participate in various exhibitions around the world
For all the previous labels starting from the vintage of the century for Bordeaux 1945 and the earlier attempt of designer labels initiated in 1924, click here
For an earlier article in delWine please visit Mouton Rothschild releases 2011 Label
Subhash Arora |