Wine Advisor
Mouton Rothschild 1947
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Description
Formerly known as Château Brane-Mouton, it was in 1853 that Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired the property located on the Left Bank in the Bordeaux region in the Médoc. From this date, the Château was renamed Château Mouton-Rothschild. Under the leadership of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild saw its reputation grow to become an emblem of the Pauillac appellation.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
I have never had anything but extraordinary, decadent, fabulously rich, concentrated bottles of the 1947 Mouton-Rothschild. The exotic, ostentatious bouquet of ginger, mint, coffee, cedar, and gobs of cassis fruit is followed by a syrupy, viscously-textured, thick, juicy Mouton that is bursting with fruit. Although drinkable since I first tasted it over a decade ago, it exhibits no signs of fruit loss or color deterioration. It is one of the most exotic and opulent Mouton-Rothschilds I have ever tasted. Will the 1982 turn out to be this thick and juicy? The notes for this wine are taken from the description of Series III - Flight D of the 1995 tasting conducted in Munich by Helga and Hardy Rodenstock. Many years after the tasting from which this note derives allegations were made concerning the authenticity of old and rare bottles of wine sold by Hardy Rodenstock to collectors around the world. The matter has been the subject of numerous articles, litigation and at least one book. Mr. Parker believes that the wines served to him at this tasting were authentic so this note and the others from that specific tasting continue to be posted on eRobertParker.com.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
(Magnum) Last Tasted 10/92 Most 1947 Medocs have a tendency to be attenuated, with excessive volatile acidity, and have long since dropped their fruit. Most knowledgeable observers agree that the greatest success in the Medoc was the Mouton-Rothschild. This bottle revealed a spectacularly opaque, garnet color, thick-looking, fruity flavors that offered copious quantities of coffee, chocolate, mint, and blackcurrant fruit. Amazingly full-bodied, with a fleshy, high alcohol finish, this decadent, succulent Mouton-Rothschild is one of the most powerful wines I have ever tasted from this property. If this bottle is typical of the best stored examples, it should continue to drink well for another 10-15 years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Less deeper in colour than the 1953 and less clear. Alas the nose is a bit volatile and ragged, unrestrained with mocha and apricot notes developing, rapidly turning to stewed prune. The palate is rich and decadent, though slightly maderized. Excessive and unruly, with some volatility on the finish. Tasted September 2005.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Magnum, Last Tasted 3/92 Tasted beside the 1945 Mouton, the 1947, a vintage that produced opulent, viscous wines in Pomerol and St.-Emilion, was more truly a Medoc in style. It displayed a huge nose of mint, cassis, and oriental spices. In the mouth, there was more structure and not nearly the viscosity, fat, and weight of the 1945. It is a great wine, and of all the 1947 Medoc first-growths, it has consistently been the best wine of this vintage. Any fortunate owners of it would be advised to drink it over the next 5-7 years.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 1947 Mouton Rothschild continues to drink fabulously well, bursting with rich aromas of cassis mingled with espresso roast, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and exotic spices. Full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it remains a thick, textural wine of notable breadth and concentration, displaying a sweet core of fruit, ripe tannins and a long, expansive finish. I have enjoyed even more vibrant, complete bottles of this legendary wine, but this was still a superb example. If I owned any bottles—and alas, I don't—I'd opt to finish them up this decade, but perfectly stored bottles and larger formats clearly have the potential to see out a century not merely intact but in fine form. By the numbers, the 1947 checks in at 12.5% alcohol and pH 3.44.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasted 9 Times With Consistent Notes Most 1947 Medocs have a tendency to be attenuated, with excessive volatile acidity. Many have long ago dropped their fruit. Most knowledgeable observers agree that the greatest success in the Medoc was the Mouton-Rothschild. The wine reveals a spectacularly opaque, garnet color, and thick-looking, fruity flavors that display coffee, chocolate, mint, and blackcurrant notes. Amazingly full-bodied, with a fleshy, high alcohol finish, this decadent, succulent Mouton-Rothschild is one of the most powerful wines I have ever tasted. It should continue to drink well for another 10-15 years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
I have never had anything but extraordinary, decadent, fabulously rich, concentrated bottles of the 1947 Mouton-Rothschild. The exotic, ostentatious bouquet of ginger, mint, coffee, cedar, and gobs of cassis fruit is followed by a syrupy, viscously-textured, thick, juicy Mouton that is bursting with fruit. Although drinkable since I first tasted it over a decade ago, it exhibits no signs of fruit loss or color deterioration. It is one of the most exotic and opulent Mouton-Rothschilds I have ever tasted. Last tasted 7/97.
About the Producer
Chateau Mouton Rothschild is located in the Pauillac appellation in the Medoc of Bordeaux, France. In the 1855 classification, it shares the distinction of being a First Growth with Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Haut-Brion. Mouton Rothschild has adopted a modern approach to winery management, employing a viticulturalist to oversee the vineyards. From the cultivation of the grapes to the pruning of the vines, from the tracking of the ripening of the grapes to the manual harvesting, everything is done to perfection. Today, Château Mouton has 90 hectares of vineyards, most of which are located on a hill called "Plateau de Mouton", at an altitude of 27 meters. The soil is deep gravel, with good drainage and heat storage, which allows the grapes to ripen slowly. The vineyard is planted with 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, with a planting density of approximately 10,000 vines/ha and an average vine age of 44 years. The vineyard also contains 7 hectares of excellent plots for the production of high quality white wines, with 56% Sauvignon Blanc, 43% Semillon and 1% Muscadelle, planted at a density of 9,000 vines per hectare. During the harvest season, the grapes are picked and sorted by hand, and the carefully selected grapes are placed in fermentation vats by gravity alone through moving vats. As a result, the grapes are not subjected to any unnatural pressure or restraint and remain in their natural, pure state from the time they are harvested until they enter the fermentation vats. At the end of fermentation, the wine is transferred to new oak barrels to mature for about 20 months. In 2012, Mouton Rothschild's new winery, which combines traditional techniques with modern technology, was inaugurated. It is divided into two floors, connected by metal columns. The interior is equipped with oak barrels and stainless steel tanks of different sizes, which correspond to the different plots and varieties of the vineyard, in order to achieve a more optimal winemaking blend. Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, France is the main wine of the estate and accounts for half of the total production. It has been praised by many critics and wine lovers for its beautiful, elegant and unique style, which is in harmony with the terroir of the region, and its artistic design of the label. In addition to the main label, the winery also has Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, France (1993) and Aile d'Argent Blanc du Mouton (1991). Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Bordeaux, France). The Petit Mouton Rothschild is made from the younger vines on the estate and is harvested, vinified and bottled on the same basis as the full-length wine. The wine quickly gained a foothold in the market and was very well received. The Silver Wings dry white wine is rich, complex and elegant, and although its production is scarce, it is quickly becoming a symbol of Bordeaux's premium white wines and a favorite among wine enthusiasts.
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