Gérard Garouste Creates a Tribute Label for the 2022 Vintage

In his 1981 autobiography Vivre la Vigne, Baron Philippe de Rothschild wondered whether people would celebrate the centennial of his arrival at Château Mouton Rothschild. His wish has been fulfilled: the label for the 2022 vintage features an original artwork by French artist Gérard Garouste, serving as the homage the Baron hoped for.

It was in 1922 that Baron Philippe de Rothschild took the reins of the château. For this anniversary of a pivotal moment in the estate’s history, Gérard Garouste has designed, in his symbolic and dreamlike style, a true coat of arms for Mouton Rothschild. The fronton is flanked by a portrait of the Baron and a ram, his well-known emblem.

Gérard Garouste drew inspiration from his discussions with Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild and from various photographs of Baron Philippe. Sketching several creative ideas in his notebooks, the concept of a portrait of the Baron, accompanied by the powerful symbols of the ram, the fronton, and the vine, quickly emerged. Finalized as a gouache, he naturally titled the work Hommage au Baron Philippe.

“It was really my discussions with Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild that inspired me. I wanted to learn more about the extraordinary life of his grandfather. He showed me many photos, and as a painter, I was deeply struck by the physical appearance of this man—it was an obvious model for me. I was captivated by his persona, especially because I place great importance on elegance. He was a man of great elegance, a hard worker, and he had this confident yet shrewd gaze. I tried to capture that in my representation of him. I am fascinated by the fact that the Baron chose a ram’s head as a symbol, which resonates both with Greek mythology and the biblical world. The fronton symbolizes Mouton Rothschild. Finally, I depicted the fruit of the vine, encapsulating the symbolism of the magnificent wine he created. This piece is a tribute to his story, to his respect for wine, and also to nature as it is given to us.”  – Gérard Garouste

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Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild, co-owner of Château Mouton Rothschild and responsible for the estate’s artistic and cultural activities, shared his perspective on the tribute to his grandfather:
“Gérard Garouste’s work can be read like a coat of arms that needs to be deciphered. It contains three powerful images: the ram, the fronton of Château Mouton Rothschild, and the portrait of Baron Philippe. Everything begins with an encounter—the meeting of Baron Philippe and the fronton, which has always been emblematic of Mouton. From this meeting emerged a symbol that transcends and represents them both: the ram, a dual embodiment of Baron Philippe, for whom it was his astrological sign, and of Mouton Rothschild, conveying its name and vital energy. For me, this label tells the story of a metamorphosis.”

The post 1922 – 2022: Centennial of Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s at Château Mouton Rothschild first appeared on Vertdevin.