Aile d’Argent 2022

“When I was a little girl, my father  made up a fairy tale for me, the hero of which was a magic teapot.  Its incredible adventures enchanted me and beguiled my childhood. The teapot was called Aile d’Argent – Silver Wing.”  Philippine de Rothschild of the legendary First Growth property Château Mouton Rothschild recalls her inspiration for the leading white wine of this estate.  Aile d’Argent is considered one of the gold standard expressions of white Bordeaux, and this limited production, ethereal white wine is as enchanting as the story behind it.

For those unfamiliar with the history of Château Mouton Rothschild, this legendary First Growth estate did not receive its accolades without decades of tireless struggle.  The property was initially snubbed during the 1855 Classification, and when Baron Philippe de Rothschild acquired the property in 1922, he decried the decision as, “A monstruous injustice.”  The Baron was a grand prix racecar driver, a screenwriter, a playwright, a theatrical producer, a poet and one of the most successful winegrowers in Bordeaux.  His belief in the Château Mouton Rothschild was so strong that he lobbied relentlessly for the French Government to reclassify Château Mouton Rothschild as a First Growth estate.  Eventually, his wish was granted, and the property now has the title of a First Growth estate.

Philippine de Rothschild, his daughter, carried on the tradition of expecting nothing short of excellence while managing the property.  In addition to improving the grand vin and second wines, Philippine planted a small parcel of the vineyard with white grape varieties.  It seems like a strange choice for a Pauillac producer to plant white varietals in a region so often associated with varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, but Philippine believed in the potential and versatility of this terroir.  Sure enough, her plantings of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Gris, and Muscadelle thrived and ultimately produced a stunning, crystalline expression of White Bordeaux. 

Aile d’Argent was introduced in the early 1980s, and the idea of planting white varietals at Château Mouton Rothschild was birthed from Philippine’s desire to reconnect with an old Medocain tradition.  The wine is very much an homage to her father, the Baron, as he would tell her the tail of Aile d’Argent to comfort her during the frightening and tumultuous time of World War II.  During the war, the Baron was imprisoned, and he wrote the story of the magical flying teapot that captivated Philippine’s childhood.  The creation of this wine immortalizes both the story and Philippine’s memory of her father.   The vines thrive in the sandy, graveled terroir and after harvest are aged in 50% new oak French barriques.  The younger generations of Rothschilds – Camille, Philippe, and Julien – tend tirelessly to the vines and ensure the highest level of quality for this wine.  The wine has beautiful tropical flavors, and a perfect mixture of precision and tension.  Aile d’Argent is considered one of the top tier white Bordeaux wines from the region, and a cult wine beloved by many. 

"Preserved lemons, white truffle, cracked pepper spice, mandarin peel and mango. Skilful construction here, rose petal aromatics expand towards the finish, excellent quality, with grip and power, has the lift and kick that balances all the opulence of the year, and is an excellent wine. 3.3ph, harvest August 22 to 31. 45% new oak for ageing, 16hl/h yield, no malolactic in this vintage, Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy director. A single point upgrade from En Primeur." - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, (12/13/2024), Ratings: 95, Drink: 2025-2034

"Gorgeous tropical notes on the nose, pineapple, mango, lemon, fresh but ripe and lively with elderflower, acacia flowers, green apple and citrus fruits. Nicely weighted on the palate. A shot of bright mango and apple with flecks of lime and a creamy lemon yoghurt type texture, thick but enjoyable. Keeps its coolness, not so tense or necessarily streamlined but generous flavour all the way through. A citrus kick and lift at the end brings the freshness and tang back, with a salinity that is moreish. Joyful and really quite approachable still with weight and texture. Will be bottled in the first week of June. Very moreish. Harvest 22-31st August. A yield of 16.7hl/ha. 1% Muscadelle completes the blend. 3.18 PH. 3.8 g/l total acidity. Aged 45% in new barrels." - Georgina Hindle, Decanter, (05/25/2023), Ratings: 94

"Another impressive Bordeaux Blanc from the Médoc, the 2022 Château Mouton Rothschild Aile D'Argent Blanc is based on 52% Sauvignon Blanc, 39% Sémillon, 8% Sauvignon Gris, and the rest Muscadelle. Still aging in 45% new oak, it has a ripe, tropical nose of minty herbs, exotic flowers, and assorted citrus and melon-like fruits. It's clean, vibrant, and medium-bodied, with bright acidity and a great finish." - Jeb Dunnuck, (05/10/2023), Ratings: 93-95