EXCLUSIVE Prince Charles designs Mouton label

Prince Charles is joining the greatest artists of the 20th century as he becomes the latest painter to feature on Chateau Mouton-Rothschild’s label.

The Prince – a well-known watercolourist who delights in capturing rural scenes around the royal residences of Balmoral, Sandringham and other retreats both at home and abroad – now adds his name to a list which includes Braque, Picasso, Miró, Chagall, Henry Moore, Warhol, Francis Bacon and Balthus.

The chosen watercolour, of pine trees at Cap d’Antibes on the Cote d’Azur, was not painted specially for the chateau, but was selected personally by Baroness Philippine de Rothschild.

A spokesman for Mouton told decanter.com the choice of the Prince was intended to mark the anniversary of the Entente Cordial between France and England, which was celebrated in 2004.

It is inscribed, ‘To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, Charles 2004’.

The 2004 vintage of Mouton Rothschild has just been bottled and is launched this week, at around £80 (€120) per bottle.

The chateau is famous for its labels, which since 1945 have each year been designed by a different contemporary artist. The tradition began with the iconic 1945 ‘V’ for Victory bottle designed by Philippe Jullian. All are exhibited in the wine museum located at the Pauillac estate.

Prince Charles has a history of exhibiting in the area. In 2001, a selection of lithographs based on his paintings, each one signed and dated, were displayed in the Cave d’Ulysses in Margaux village, a wine shop owned by John Kolasa of Chateau Rauzan Segla.

Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux