Mouton Cadet

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Mouton Cadet red, 2018

Mouton Cadet is the brand name of a popular range of modestly priced, generic Bordeaux wines, considered Bordeaux's most successful brand.[1][2] Created by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Mouton Cadet wine is produced through the assembly of a variety of grapes, from several Bordeaux region appellations.

History[]

After the acclaimed vintages of 1928 and 1929, the vintage of 1930 and the following two harvests were dire,[3] and the wine that Baron Philippe de Rothschild felt was not worthy of the Chateau Mouton-Rothschild name was this time named Mouton Cadet.[1] "Cadet" refers to Philippe de Rothschild place as cadet, the youngest son of the family.[1][2]

Despite its lack of traditional prestige, the wine proved successful, and in order to repeat the success the following year, de Rothschild had to turn to neighbouring vineyards for sourced fruit. Initially labeled with the appellation of Pauillac,[4] the increasing demand caused the sourcing of grapes to expand to nearby appellations Saint-Estèphe and Haut-Médoc. Over the following years, the wine came to include grapes from an even greater area, until production stopped with World War II. The wine was reborn after the war, and gained a Bordeaux AOC classification in 1947, steadily increasing in popularity due to a reputation of consistent quality.[5] In later years the wine relies heavily on grapes sourced from the Entre-Deux-Mers district.[2]

Mouton Cadet was marketed significantly throughout the 1950s and '60s, placing the brand in the United Kingdom and United States. In the 1970s, a white wine was added to the label, expanding the brand's concept, which resulted in 1975 sales of more than three million bottles worldwide.[5]

Philippe de Rothschild died in 1988 and control of the business passed on to his daughter Philippine de Rothschild.

The label Réserve Mouton Cadet Médoc was created in 1996, offering a red wine with greater ageing potential and suitability for the restaurant trade. In 1999 the Réserve line also included the white Réserve Mouton Cadet Graves.

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Grape composition[]

Mouton Cadet:

  • Mouton Cadet Red (2019): 87% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Cabernet Franc, matured 16months
  • Mouton Cadet White (2020): 76% Sauvignon Blanc, 22% Semillon, and 2% Muscadelle, matured 6 months
  • Mouton Cadet Rosé (2020): 77% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured 5 months
  • Mouton Cadet Sauvignon Blanc (2020): 100% Sauvignon Blanc, matured 4 months


Réserve Mouton Cadet:

  • Réserve Mouton Cadet Médoc (2017): 59% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Petit Verdot, matured 16 months
  • Réserve Mouton Cadet Saint-Émilion (2017): 88% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured 16 months
  • Réserve Mouton Cadet Graves Rouge (2017):61% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 14% Cabernet Franc, matured 10 to12 months
  • Réserve Mouton Cadet Graves Blanc (2019): 51% Semillon, and 49% Sauvignon Blanc, matured 9 months
  • Réserve Mouton Cadet Sauternes (2018): 86% Semillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc, and 2% Muscadelle, matured 10 months
  • Réserve Mouton Cadet Haut-Médoc (2018): 71% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Cabernet Franc, matured 16 months
  • Réserve Mouton Cadet Margaux (2018): 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, matured 18 months
  • Réserve Mouton Cadet Pauillac (2017): 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, matured 18 months
  • Réserve Mouton Cadet Pessac-Léognan (2018): 60% Merlot, and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured 18 months
  • Réserve Mouton Cadet Saint-Estèphe (2018): 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, matured 18 months

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Prial, Frank J., The New York Times (February 14, 1996). "Wine Talk: Mouton".
  2. ^ a b c winepros.com.au. The Oxford Companion to Wine. "Mouton Cadet". Archived from the original on 2008-08-20.
  3. ^ Peppercorn, David (2003). Bordeaux. London: Mitchell Beazley. pp. 640–641. ISBN 978-1-84000-927-9.
  4. ^ winepros.com.au. The Oxford Companion to Wine. "Bordeaux AC". Archived from the original on 2008-08-09.
  5. ^ a b Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A. "Wines".

External links[]

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