Prince's art boosts Rothschild wine prices

LONDON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Watercolors by Britain's Prince Charles on the label have paid off for the latest vintage of France's prestigious Chateau Mouton Rothschild wine.

The royal label has helped stoke the price for the wine as collectors snap up bottles for posterity.

The odd honor of creating the Rothschild label is bestowed annually on an artist, including past winners such as Picasso and Salvador Dali.

The Times of London noted Saturday that Prince Charles has become an accomplished watercolorist when not traveling the globe and maintaining the royal bloodline.

The Times said the landscape is pretty good although not a masterpiece, but then again neither is the wine. The 2004 is described by critics as good, "but not a blockbuster."

The royal artwork, however, seemed to help sales as collectors have pushed the price up 22 percent since September. The 2004 has surpassed the price of the wines illustrated by Henry Moore and Wassily Kandinsky and is closing in on the great Picasso.

Hardly a "two-buck (Prince) Chuck."