Beschreibung:

Château Mouton-Rothschild--Vintage 1945
6 magnums per lot
MOUTON-ROTHSCHILD 1945 IN MAGNUMS AN ARTISTIC VISION It was in 1927 that Baron Philippe de Rothschild set forth on his quest to become one of the most recognisable lables on the planet. For it was in that year that the Baron commissioned a piece of art from the renowned architect and stage-designer Jacques Carlu for Mouton's 1924 vintage. It was a highly stylized nineteen-twentyish pattern of the Mouton ram's head in black and grey, with a pale brown formalized chai and the five arrows representing in the family's arms the five Rothschild brothers who set out from Frankfurt in Napoleon's time. It also marked the beginning of an era at Mouton where 'château bottling' became the norm. The custom at Mouton of stating how many bottles the vintage produced and the numbering of each bottle began in 1934. Because of the controversial nature of château bottling and what it meant to the trade at the time and the soon to follow war the Baron rested this practice. The return of the artist label could not have restarted with a more auspicious year. Anyone associated with the wine trade at the time new that 1945 had produced one of the greatest vintages ever harvested. To celebrate this year of victory and French liberation Baron Philippe sought out a Rome prize winning artist, Philippe Jullian, to design a label for this monumental claret. Jullian's design incorporated the tendrils of the vine in gold; the words 1945 Année de la Victoire and a gold letter 'V'. It was produced as a top strip, about one inch deep, of the label the label as a whole, and this is the pattern that has repeated ever since: a specially-commissioned, previously unpublished design by an outstanding contemporary artist. The rest of the label bearing in gold, as it had done in the years just before the war, the original Carlu design of 1927, on a shield, with mouton supporters, surmounted by the coronet of a baron of the Austrian Empire. Property of a Gentleman Recently removed by Christie's from a temperature and humidity controlled, professionally maintained storage facility. Château Mouton-Rothschild--Vintage 1945 Pauillac, 1er cru classé Levels: two into neck, four base neck; one cut capsule verified château stamped cork with vintage visible, lightly bin soiled, Réserve du Château labels, Reserve Nicolas neck labels and stamped labels "I originally coined the phrase 'a Churchill of a wine', meaning larger than life, imediately recognisable, complex, endlessly fascinating, unforgettable. The only first growth I tasted in its (relative) youth. In July 1954 I wrote 'dark, deep, (yet) translucent; amazing nose. Quite unlike any other claret, spicy, Indian mango chutney (!). Loaded with tannin, acidity and all the good things. Full and flavoury'. Apart from the chutney, it still applies. The first thing to notice is its extraordinary colour. I have on more than one occasion recognised the wine by this alone. And its bouquet is equally distinctive, in fact one of the most astonishing smells ever to emerge from grapes grown out of doors. The power and spiciness surges out of the glass like a sudden eruption of Mount Etna: cinnamon, eucalyptus, ginger, 'Friars Balsam' (noted once!). Impossible to describe but imimitable, incomparable, and, because of this and its appearance, several times 'guessed' blind. There is simply no ther wine like it. Its taste is a component of smell, its fragrance is reflected on the palate. Still lovely, sitll vivacious. Seemingly tireless -- indeed another half century anticipated. June 2001 ****** (6 stars)." MB, Vintage Wine 6 magnums per lot