Selected Company- Prince Charles, Picasso and Balthus
The beginning of December has brought a special event in the Royal Family’s history. The 2004 vintage of Mouton Rothschild has been launched, at a price of £80 (€120) per bottle. This, however, it is not a regular wine and its uniqueness does not come from its characteristics only but from the fact that the designer of its label was no one else but Prince Charles. He, thus, has joined by designing the label, the greatest artists of the 20th century.
The design, a proof that Prince Charles prefers water colours, illustrates a rural scene. He subscribes by making this latest creation to a list of people, including Braque, Picasso, Miró, Chagall, Henry Moore, Warhol, Francis Bacon and Balthus.
The water colours of pine trees at Cap d'Antibes on the Cote d'Azur, were chosen by Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, although they were not painted especially for this wine.
A spokesman of Mouton told decanter.com that the Prince wanted to mark by painting the label of the anniversary of the Entente Cordial between France and England, which was celebrated in 2004. His affirmations are being sustained by the inscription on the wine’s bottle: 'To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, Charles 2004'.
Although that the label designed by Prince Charles it is going to make the wine more famous, this brand was not anonymous until this Royal event. The Chateau is in fact, famous for its labels, designed by different contemporary artists, ever since 1945. This tradition began with the iconic 1945 'V' for Victory bottle designed by Philippe Jullian. All other labels are to be found in the wine museum located at the Pauillac estate.
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