Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1981 75cl

A bottle of Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1981 from Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, featuring a label by painter and sculptor Arman Fernandez (1928-2005).

Despite its market prices equalling that of Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild was excluded from the First Growth status under the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Baron Philippe de Rothschild called this a 'monstrous injustice', and some believe the Château was excluded as it had recently been purchased by an Englishman, so was no longer under French ownership.

After intense lobbying, Château Mouton Rothschild was elevated to First Growth status in 1973, leading to a change in motto, from 'Premier ne puis, second ne daigne, Mouton suis' ('First, I cannot be. Second, I do not deign to be. Mouton I am'), to 'Premier je suis, Second je fus, Mouton ne change' ('First, I am. Second, I used to be. Mouton does not change').

This Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1981 sold at our online auction for £420