2009 Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac

Label artist: Anish Kapoor

Representative blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc

Annual production: 17,000 cases and 3,000 cases of the second wine, Petit Mouton. There is also a small amount of white produced: Aile d`Argent.

The only wine ever to have moved up the 1855 classification - from second to first growth in 1973 - `Mouton`, as it is universally known, is a profoundly unique wine in Bordeaux. While the vineyards lie adjacent to those of Lafite, the wine could scarcely be more different. Mouton has a unique nose of spice, cedarwood and cassis and always has greater weight than Lafite. Since the Second World War, Mouton`s singularity has only been enhanced by its artists labels - a different artist for each vintage. This makes it a particular favourite of collectors.

Tasting Note

Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Mouton Rothschild gives up bold earthy notions of underbrush, tilled soil and fungi over a core of crème de cassis, plum preserves and Indian spices with a waft of camphor. Full-bodied with a firm, velvety tannin texture and packed with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, it has seamless freshness and a very long, decadently fruited finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate