The famous winery is located in the north of the municipality of Pauillac in the Haut-Médoc region (Bordeaux). Directly adjacent is Château Lafite-Rothschild. The landmark of the house is a ram's head (French: Mouton = sheep or ram), a golden one hangs in the entrance hall. However, the name is actually derived from "Mothon," which means "hill" or "elevation." The origin of the estate is a parcel called "Clos de Mouton" owned by the notary Jacques de Ségur (+1691). This famous noble family owned vast estates, including the predecessors of the three wineries Château Latour, Château Lafite-Rothschild, and also Château Mouton-Rothschild. The grandson Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur (1697-1755) drew the final boundary between the Lafite and the neighboring Mouton parts, which fundamentally differ in terroir and thus also in wine style.

Château Brane-Mouton 1725

Around the year 1725, the Mouton part was sold to Baron Joseph de Brane and named "Château Brane-Mouton." It remained in the family's possession until 1830 (or 1835) and was acquired for 1.124 million francs by the Parisian banker Isaac Thuriet (the banker is also sometimes referred to as Thuret). He sold the estate, which then comprised 35 hectares of vineyard, on May 11, 1853, to Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild (1812-1870) from the English branch of this large family. The Baron had moved with his wife Charlotte (a cousin) from London to Paris three years earlier to work in his father-in-law and uncle Baron James de Rothschild's (1792-1868) bank. Baron James then purchased Château Lafite 15 years later and added the name Rothschild.

Bordeaux Classification 1855 - Deuxième Grand Cru Classé

Baron Nathaniel named his new possession "Château Mouton-Rothschild." At that time, it consisted only of some barns and halls; a château did not yet exist. In the Bordeaux Classification of 1855, the winery received only the second rank Deuxième Grand Cru Classé. However, as a sort of consolation prize, the title "Premier des Seconds" (First of the Seconds) was added. Following Nathaniel was his son James (1844-1881), who began the construction of a grand house. It was only completed by his widow Thérèse.

James Rothschild was succeeded by his son Henri (1872-1947), who was more interested in art than wine. The estate was somewhat mismanaged during his time, with misconduct and unscrupulous activities by staff contributing to this. His son Philippe de Rothschild (1902-1988) had spent some time on the estate as a teenager during World War I (1914-1918) and had taken a liking to country life. He brought the issues to his father's attention and was delighted to be entrusted with management.

Entry of Baron Philippe de Rothschild 1922

Philippe de Rothschild took over responsibility for the winery in 1922 at the age of twenty. He had to painstakingly acquire knowledge and began the renovation of the operation. In 1925, the old...