This makes Mouton the only one of the five First Growths to have remained in the ownership of the same family since the 1855 classification – something which is clearly a source of pride for the family, and even more so since it took until 1973 for Mouton to be given the official title of First Growth.

The vineyards of Mouton extend over three small hills, with the slopes, and the deep gravel terroir, providing excellent drainage, And so carefully are they looked after that certain vines at the estate date back to 1900, and are still producing tiny quantities of complex wine. As with Haut-Brion, the estate’s onsite nursery grows its own clones to ensure the quality, and the variability, of the vine stock across its 84 hectares, planted to 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Satellite imagery is used in the vines to isolate different zones, and each grape is looked after according to its age, its variety, its soil, its microclimate, and the needs according to the soil in which it grows. ‘There are no formal rules at Mouton, besides being ready to adapt’ says technical director Philippe Dhalluin. ‘We respect the essential character of each plot, and treat them all as if they will end up in our first wine.’ The amount which finally does make it to Mouton Rothschild varies each year, most usually around 16,000 cases, with the second wine Petit Mouton making up around 8,000 cases. A small amount of fine white wine, called Aile d’Argent, is also produced.