Chateau Mouton Rothschild has unveiled a wine label designed by American neo-pop artist Jeff Koons for its 2010 vintage. Owner and art lover Baroness Phillippine de Rothschild personally commissioned Koons to create the artwork, a tradition dating back to 1945 with a new artist in charge of the image each year. The list includes incredible names such as Dali, César, Miró, Chagall, Picasso, Warhol, Soulages, Bacon and Balthus.
One of Bordeaux’s premier cru red wines, Chateau Mouton Rothschild’s 2010 vintage makes use of an original work of art depicting the House of the Venus Marina III. Koons used a Pompeii fresco of the Birth of Venus as the basis of his label art, adding a silver lining drawing of a ship sailing under the sun.
The much-lauded 2010 vintage in Bordeaux was a dry and relatively cool year, with an ideal amount of sunshine. According to the château, the favourable conditions led to small, rich, naturally concentrated grapes both high in colour and natural acidity, with length, elegance and harmony being the hallmarks of the vintage.
While it may not be to everyone’s taste, there’s no doubt the wine and its bottle will generate interest in the industry.
Influenced by both Marcel Duchamp and Andy Warhol, Koons combines the Pop Art tradition with the kitsch aesthetic, transforming familiar objects with a wide variety of techniques.
His “tulips” – a large steel and chromium bouquet of multi-coloured tulips – which was sold for $33,682,500 at Christie’s New York in November this year, made him the world’s most expensive living artist. He has also exhibited work in Château de Versailles in Paris.