Bordeaux loving Operatives!

Here’s a Wine Spies Exclusive that ought to knock your lambswool socks off this winter. The Mouton name means THE VERY TOP of the quality pyramid, yes? So how on earth can a PAIR of Réserve Mouton Cadet cost less than a bone-in ribeye at Morton’s? Especially if they showcase two of the most heralded appellations and equally stellar vintages? Because we were chosen to introduce these brand-new Moutons as they just hit the US shores, seeking the right venues worthy of their quality.

Let us then fulfill that promise by reminding you that THE Château Mouton Rothschild with direct lineage to these phantasmagorical values, is unanimously crowned as one of the greatest wines of the world, fetching an AVERAGE per bottle price over $700. To clarify, these are NOT the higher production Mouton Cadet that carry the umbrella ‘Bordeaux’ appellation which is a huge territory of significant variance in quality. The latest and most limited Réserve program at Mouton Cadet sources exclusively from the best possible appellations and vineyards to elevate this perpetually popular brand a few steps closer to the Château Mouton Rothschild legacy.

The White Sheep: 2017 Réserve Graves Blanc

Meh, your good ole average white sheep we hear you saying, baa, baaaaa… one of many. Well, not this one! First, Graves. THE sweet spot in all of Bordeaux where the top wines are often white, costing more than their red counterparts. Then there’s the vintage. In years where reds barely ripen in Bordeaux, the whites truly sing, and that’s exactly what happened in 2017, recently highlighted by a Forbes article as “A Bordeaux Vintage made for Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon” this wine is a perfect example with about half of each attuned to an exemplary balance, with a traditional and exotic kiss of the nearly extinct Muscadelle grape.

Bright yellow-gold akin to the heart of a fresh daisy, with white petal-like highlights. Spicy, honeyed citrus fruit and lemon rind with a generous and striking mineral note. Medium-bodied with seamlessly integrated lovely fruit, juicy acidity, and toasty oak. Long and lavish, displaying floral notes and brioche in a firmly structured personality. Ideal for a sole meunière, or any white fish in a cream sauce with fingerling potatoes.

The Black Sheep: 2016 Réserve Saint-Émilion

Mouton Rothschild, along with most of Baron Philippe’s prominent holdings are on the Left Bank where Cabernet Sauvignon rules. The Right Bank is famous with Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, where mythical names like Petrus and Cheval Blanc rely on Merlot and Cabernet Franc for glorious, small production wines that defy classification systems. In 2016, as Galloni said; “there is no shortage of compelling wines on the Right Bank” and with all the might that Mouton brings from the wealthier Left Bank, their sourcing prowess undeniably granted them access to harvest a wine of this caliber that can easily compete with many a resident Châteaux.

Saturated ruby with a pitch-black – no, make that sheep-black core that draws the eye. Extravagant aromas of blueberry jam, kirsch, coffee beans, baking spices, and sexy oak. A rich, explosive wine, vivid with serious depth and brilliantly delineated with intensity. Dark, rich, powerful and creamy, boasting superb overall balance on the notable finale. Pair this beguiling Bordeaux with a rich roast of game, root vegetables, and mushrooms.

Did you know that Mouton Cadet has been the official dry wine of the Cannes Film Festival since 1994? The Mouton Cadet Wine Bar on the rooftop of the Palais des Festivals annually welcomes the world of cinema in a casual yet stylish atmosphere where the ‘French Art of Living’ is savored with limited edition Mouton Cadet wines such as these, so get on the red carpet with your very own Moutons! As the late Baron Philippe put it best; “wine is born, it lives, but it never dies; in man it survives” - a quote of wisdom that remains the motto of Mouton Cadet to this date.