Primeurs 2009 Pauill Baron Philippe de Rothschild
Both sides of the success story...
Each of you, dear friends Sommeliers, know Madame Philippine de Rothschild, grand dame of Wine and charismatic figure of BPHR*, first Bordeaux wines export company with a turnover of nearly 200 millions euros. On the one side, the châteaux and estates, on the other side the trade and branded wines company…
Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A.
B.P. 117 - 33250 Pauillac Tél. :
+33 (0)5 56 73 20 20 Fax : +33 (0)5 56 73 20 44
www.bpdr.com
At the beginning of this adventure was Mouton, a château bought in 1853 by one of her ancestors and classified in 1855 first of the second growths. Drawing his inspiration from the Rohan's device, Philippe de Rothschild, her father, then heir of the estate, imposed his own motto
«Premier ne puis, second ne daigne, Mouton suis» (First may not be, second I will not be, Mouton I am). With diplomacy, tenacity, work on the quality of the wine, he managed to promote it to the rank of First Growth in 1973. Visionary and audacious, he chose for the authenticity of his wines imposing on his peers to bottle at the château from 1924! Later on he anchored Mouton in the art field by creating a foundation and a museum at the château. Innovation also during the 30s, with a new brand:
Mouton-Cadet. The châteaux on the one side, the brands on the other side. SommelierS International wanted to talk about the châteaux and great estates part: the first side of the company, with
Philippe Dhalluin, Director of all the estates, to understand the continued existence of the group which, since then, grew with power and legitimacy. Agronomist, œnologist, with emeritus mentors as Emile Peynaud (Oenology University of Bordeaux) and Max Rives (INRA**), he always takes a new look at himself with his team to preserve the quality sphere of the fine labels and jewels he is in charge of, in France and abroad, (the Châteaux Mouton Rothschild, Clerc Milon, d’Armailhac, the Domaine de Baron’Arques, Opus One, Almaviva).
«In the spirit of the Rothschild stamp –’guarantee of seriousness and prestige’- we now confirm our achievements with huge investments. At the Château d’Armailhac as at the Château Clerc Milon we installed a gravity fed harvest reception equipment. We are renovating the vat room of the Château Mouton Rothschild that will be operational in 2011 and we envisage the building of a big winery at the Domaine de Baron’Arques.» Ph. Dhalluin explains
. «This work of permanent research and innovation, with a 'micro-plots management', ensures the best respect of the terroir and the exploitation of the qualitative potential of the grapes, vintage after vintage» he ads… Peculiarly the extraction of the very essence of a historical vintage like 2009… «There is no lack of superlatives to describe this year with a colder winter than usually, with a dry and hot but not scorching summer… thus favourable to the very great wines of Bordeaux… the wines are scented, flavoured, generous, structured, neither heavy nor massive… maturing will reveal this historical vintage…without doubt legendary for our classed growths of Pauillac!» he concludes, very enthusiastically.
Of course BPHR was present at Vinexpo Hong Kong with a stand in the prestigious spirit of Vinexpo Bordeaux, to welcome distributors, buyers and customers of all over the world and particularly those of Asia.
Florence Varaine
* BPHR : Baron Philippe de Rotschild.
** INRA : Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique.
Châteaux wines:
Château Mouton Rothschild
– First growth of Pauillac (with Petit Mouton and Aile d’Argent)
Château d’Armailhac – Fifth growth of Pauillac
Château Clerc Milon – Fifith growth of Pauillac
Domaine de Baron’Arques – Red Limoux controlled appellation
Exclusive distribution:
Château Coutet – First growth of Sauternes-Barsac
Vineyards overseas:
Opus One (Napa Valley- Californie)
Almaviva ( Puente Alto, Chili)
Branded wines activity:
Mouton Cadet – 1st brand of Bordeaux AOC; Cuvées des Barons et Baronnes, brand La Baronnie (mail order selling);
Berger Baron and Agneau, varietal wines of the Pays d’Oc; Carabas - blending wine of the Pays d’Oc;
in Chile:
Escudo Rojo, Mapu, varietal wines.
- 2008 consolidated turnover of the Baron Ph. de R. group: 223 millions euros, increasing of 11% compared to 2007.
-
Mouton Cadet sales volume: 1 million boxes.
- Châteaux activity share: 40 % of the group's turnover (of which
Grands Crus Classés Bordeaux 75 %,
Opus One 19 %,
Almaviva 4 %,
Domaine de Baron’Arques 2%).
- Trade/distribution activity share: 60%.
