1993 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac [Naked Lady - Balthus Label], Bottle (750ml)

"Mouton comes through again. Impressive '93, deep in color and full-bodied, boasting plenty of currant, black cherry, mint and toast character. Well crafted, showing depth for this vintage. Give the tannins some time to mellow." JS for WS Jan 1996

For the 1993 vintage, the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, who managed the estate, commissioned the renowned artist Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) to create the label artwork. Balthus, known for his distinctive and sometimes provocative style, painted an image of a reclining nude woman, which became known as the "Naked Lady" label.
However, this choice sparked controversy, particularly in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) found the label to be inappropriate for import due to its nudity, leading to a ban on the importation of the 1993 Mouton Rothschild wine with the original label. To resolve this issue, the winery had to create an alternative label for bottles destined for the U.S. market, which featured a blank space where the artwork would have been.
This situation made the 1993 Mouton Rothschild vintage even more iconic and collectible, with the "Naked Lady" label becoming highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts.