Château Mouton Rothschild 1975

The colour is medium tawny, still clear and lively. On the nose mandarins, cooked black fruits, mushrooms. In the mouths silky and well balanced. The aftertaste is savoury and last for a while.

For this bottle I had very low expectations: 1975 was a tough vintage and the wine level in this bottle was barely mid-shoulder. I was afraid it wasn’t drinkable. Instead, what a surprise! The wine was not only drinkable but even enjoyable!

1975 was the year the British Conservative Party chooses its first women leader: Margaret Thatcher, and the year another remarkable woman was born: my wife! 1975 was also the year Microsoft was founded and the Vietnam War ended.

Under the guide of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild was the first winery to introduce estate bottling in 1922 and the first and only to obtain, after a twenty-year battle, a revision of the 1855 classification and being recognised as a First Growth. Since 1945, the label of Château Mouton Rothschild is created by a famous painter. The one for the 1975 was made by Andy Warhol.

The estate is currently planted with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

I was offered this bottle from a friend who was born in 1975. It sells online for some 400 CHF.

Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Type: Red
Vintage: 1975
Producer: Château Mouton Rothschild
Price range: Luxury (>100 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 4/5