The best Mouton between 1986 and 1995…? 

After the difficult trio of 1991-1992-1993, the Bordelais winemakers were desperate for a successful vintage.

Because of heavy frosts in April, the amount of grapes available to be harvested in 1994 was small.

If Merlot and Cabernet Franc was picked before (or after) the September rains, the quality was good.

But Cabernet Sauvignon takes longer to ripen properly, so some winemakers left it until October, trying to dodge the rainfall.

However, it remained quite warm so there wasn’t any rot.

Château Mouton Rothschild managed to bring in its grapes without them getting too wet and made a very good wine in 1994 – comparable to the 1988.

For its 1994 label image, Mouton commissioned the the Dutch painter Karel Appel (1921-2006).

He conceived a pair of drinkers performing a wild dance round a totem bottle, as if to liberate the spirit of the wine still imprisoned within…