[Akyeong Wine Cellar] "No Compromise"... The Rothschild Family's Century-Old Bordeaux Legacy

France's 'Mouton Cadet': The First Branded Wine Launched in 1930
Blending Tradition and Innovation... The Essence of Bordeaux Terroir
The Power of Blending: 'Mouton Cadet Cuvee Heritage'

Editor's NoteNo two wines under the sky are the same. Even when grapes grown on the same land each year are vinified and aged using the same methods, the results differ every time. Wine is a 'drink of chance' created through the harmony of humans and nature. Each wine, which silently disappears after leaving only a single intense memory, carries an intriguing story. 'Akyung Wine Cellar' shares these stories of wines, each crafted and matured under different circumstances, one by one.

The symbol of 'Mouton Cadet', 'Barbacchus'.

"Excellent wine must be made without compromise."

This is a saying left by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the owner of 'Chateau Mouton Rothschild,' one of the world-renowned wineries representing Bordeaux, France.

France's First Branded Wine 'Mouton Cadet'

The origin of Mouton Cadet is rooted in respect and affection for the land of Bordeaux and those who have tirelessly cultivated grapes there over a long time. Baron Philippe de Rothschild felt regret that the consumption of high-quality wines from the Bordeaux region he cherished was limited to certain social classes. For him, wine should be something everyone can share and enjoy together, so creating wines that maintain excellent quality while being accessible to the public was an unavoidable challenge.

In 1930, at the age of twenty-eight, Baron Philippe de Rothschild finally embarked on a challenge to introduce high-quality wines at reasonable prices based on the Rothschild family's know-how. This was the launch of the branded wine 'Mouton Cadet.' At a time when the winery's name was synonymous with the product, naming a wine separately was a groundbreaking attempt and a fresh event that went beyond the existing industry's wine production and trading practices. The name Mouton Cadet combines 'Mouton,' meaning sheep in French, and 'Cadet,' meaning the youngest son, reflecting his status as the owner of Chateau Mouton Rothschild and the youngest son of the family.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild and his daughter Baroness Philippine de Rothschild.

The person who made the name Mouton Cadet known worldwide was his daughter, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild. She inherited the winery from her father in 1988 and became a powerful ambassador for Mouton Cadet and the Bordeaux wine industry. She promoted the brand through interactions with various prominent figures, developed the 'Mouton Cadet Reserve' collection, and actively expanded the portfolio by adding white and ros? wines to the Mouton Cadet lineup.

She also created the logo 'Barbacchus,' which still symbolizes Mouton Cadet today. Barbacchus is a word combining the French 'Barbe,' meaning beard, and 'Bacchus,' the god of wine, inspired by her pencil sketch merging a sheep's head and grape clusters.

The symbol of 'Mouton Cadet', 'Barbacchus'.

Since 2014, Philippine's son, Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, has been the head of the winery. While maintaining a leading position in the market, he is further developing practices that respect the environment and people. Additionally, he aims to build closer relationships with the grape-growing community and improve the taste of various wines within the collection to foster solidarity among the younger generation, leading the winery into a new era.

Creativity Beyond Nature's Limits

The vineyards and winery of 'Mouton Cadet' in Bordeaux, France.

Bordeaux is France's largest wine-producing region, known for producing wines with excellent aging potential and deep complexity. Bordeaux experiences a maritime climate influenced by the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic Ocean, with a generally mild climate due to its proximity to the sea and the Gironde River flowing through the region.

The average annual rainfall is about 950mm, slightly more than the Bourgogne region. Summers and autumns are warm with abundant sunshine. However, the weather during the flowering and fruit-setting period in June is unpredictable, causing variations in yield and susceptibility to fungal diseases. Especially, rain during the harvest season increases the moisture content of grapes, diluting flavors, making vintage variations significant in this region.

Despite the fluctuating climate each year, overcoming it to produce high-quality wines is the charm of Bordeaux wines. At the heart of this is a kind of magic called the 'Bordeaux Blend.' Most Bordeaux wines are not made from a single grape variety but are blends of various grape varieties. Since the yield of each variety varies annually depending on the weather, blending is adjusted to find the optimal solution for each situation.

Jerome Aguirre, Mutong Kade Head Winemaker, interviewed by Asia Economy.

In a region like Bordeaux with an unpredictable climate, creativity is essential for cultivating grapes and producing quality wines over a long period. Creativity is an indispensable element in the winemaking of Mouton Cadet, which began with a spirit of innovation. Jerome Aguirre, Director of Mouton Cadet Wines, explained, "In regions with stable and consistent climates, many adopt a conservative approach to winemaking, but in places like Bordeaux where the climate varies yearly, diversity and creativity are inevitable. We blend with the mindset of creating a work of art using the diverse climate, soil, and grape varieties provided by nature."

Mouton Cadet carefully evaluates each vintage, reflecting the characteristics of the year while focusing on maintaining consistent quality. Director Aguirre emphasized, "To maintain elegance, complexity, and consistency, a tailored approach is applied to each vintage, making blending accuracy very important. Climate change affects grape ripeness and balance, so vintage conditions are crucial. To manage this, we meticulously monitor the vineyards to ensure the grapes reach optimal ripeness."

A Century-Old Legacy of the Rothschild Wine Family: 'Mouton Cadet Cuvee Heritage'

'Mouton Cadet Cuvee Heritage Rouge'

The 'Mouton Cadet Cuvee Heritage' collection is a wine that showcases the essence of Mouton Cadet blending. This collection was launched with the goal of reinterpreting the elegance of Bordeaux wines, inheriting the spirit of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, and emphasizes its authenticity by applying the original 1950s label design to the wine labels.

The wines are made from grapes grown in carefully selected terroirs of the Cote de Bordeaux region. They fully express the region's diversity, rich aromas, and refined style. Director Aguirre explained, "We crafted the wines to balance accessibility and aging potential, allowing rich expression whether the wine is young and fresh or beautifully matured." The Cote de Bordeaux is a regional classification comprising four main areas: Blaye, Castillon, Franc, and Cadillac, where Merlot is primarily cultivated.

'Mouton Cadet Cuvee Heritage Blanc'

The red wine 'Mouton Cadet Cuvee Heritage Rouge' shows an intense yet generous character, combining the elegance of Castillon, the richness of Blaye, and the strength of Medoc's clay soils. The 2022 vintage blend consists of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine, with a black cherry color tinged with ruby, begins with aromas of red currant, cherry, and blackberry, gradually adding notes of nutmeg, toast, and wild strawberry. On the palate, dark red fruit flavors fill it sweetly, finishing smoothly with subtle vanilla touches.

The white wine in the same Heritage collection, 'Mouton Cadet Cuvee Heritage Blanc,' is also noteworthy. The 2023 vintage blend of 60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc is the only Mouton Cadet white wine that undergoes oak aging. It is partially aged for seven months with fine lees in lightly toasted new French oak barrels, creating a rich yet supple and balanced character.

'Mouton Cadet Reserve' Collection

Fusion of Tradition and Modernity... Wine Without Compromise

Mouton Cadet has long-term contracts with 150 grape growers across Bordeaux, sourcing grapes from vineyards spanning 1,500 hectares. These vineyards are cultivated and managed according to standards and procedures set by the Mouton Cadet winemaking team. Led by Director Aguirre, seven Mouton Cadet winemakers monitor the vineyards daily, focusing on enhancing grape quality.

In line with the global wine industry's focus on sustainability, the winery operates with the environment as a top priority. Director Aguirre stated, "Thanks to the efforts of the winemaking team and the support of grape growers, Mouton Cadet wines have obtained various certifications and labels guaranteeing environmentally friendly production. The 'Fair for Life' certification, representing a long-term vision of sustainable grape cultivation, fair pricing for producers, and high transparency for consumers, is a prime example."

The vineyard view of 'Mouton Cadet'.