Of all the years to own a bottle of Mouton, this is the one with a story attached. In June 1973 the French agriculture ministry granted the estate promotion to first growth, ending Baron Philippe de Rothschild's twenty-year campaign and making the only change ever entered into the 1855 classification. The 1973 was the first vintage bottled under the new rank.
The label for that year was painted by Pablo Picasso, who had died that April, and his daughter Paloma authorised its use. Mouton has carried a different artist's work on its label every year since 1945, and the 1973 is among the most sought-after of them all, which is why the bottle trades well above what the wine alone would justify.
The vintage itself was large and thinned by rain, so expect a light, fully mature Pauillac rather than a monumental one. What you are giving is a piece of Bordeaux history that happens to be dated 1973.
-
Producer: Château Mouton Rothschild
-
Vintage: 1973
-
Appellation: Pauillac AOC
-
Format: 75cl
-
Region: Bordeaux, France
-
Style: Red
Where it is likely to be now. The 1973 was always a light Mouton and is now fully mature; some bottles still give a fine cedary echo of what the estate does, but at fifty-three years it is bought for the label first.
Who it suits. The obvious choice for anyone born in 1973 turning fifty-three, and the rare case where the story behind the bottle is as good as the bottle.
Condition. No condition detail was supplied with the listing, so the bottle is examined in full and a written condition report confirmed before the bottle ships.
Provenance. Bought to order from a professional European merchant. We check fill, label and capsule when the bottle reaches us and photograph it before it ships.
Delivered in 7 to 10 working days, tracked. Transit cover can be added at checkout.
Sold as a collectible item, as seen. No guarantee is given on drinkability.
