Le Petit Mouton

Produced from an exceptional terroir, Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild is the second wine of Château Mouton Rothschild. Made with grapes from selected younger vines in the illustrious First Growth vineyard, it is harvested, vinified and bottled with the same scrupulous attention to detail. Harvested in small, open baskets, fermented in the Mouton oak vats, matured in oak barrels in the traditional way, all the conditions are met for the wine to express the elegance and richness of a great Pauillac.

In order to link the second wine more closely with its famous elder, illustrated by great artists since 1945, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild has chosen a label for Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild inspired by a drawing by the famous poster artist Jean Carlu.

Winemaker notes

The wine is a crimson-hued garnet red. The nose reveals red berry fruit aromas combined with delicate floral notes of peony and fresh mint. A dense and muscular attack leads into a full-bodied mid-palate whose juicy and expressive substance is underlined by well-rounded, silky tannins. The long and balanced finish lingers on notes of spice, especially white pepper.

2008

Wine Advocate 89: Produced from 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot, this sexy, seductive Le Petit Mouton is round, generous, elegant and pure with lots of blue and black fruits and no hard edges. Drink this seamless, impressive 2008 second wine over the next 10-15 years.

James Suckling 92: I don’t remember a second wine of Mouton being so outstanding. This is really plummy and juicy on the nose with flowers and lots of everything. Full and velvety with a lovely texture. Long and very pretty. Plenty of chocolate and lightly toasted oak. Bright and exciting. Give it three or four years of bottle age.

Vinous 91: The 2008 Le Petit Mouton has a simple but effective bouquet with pure redcurrant and cranberry fruit laced with dried rose petals. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannin, crisp and taut with well judged acidity and real precision towards the finish. It is not long in the mouth, but a finely crafted Deuxieme Vin all the same. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirits annual 10-Year On tasting.)

Decanter 91: Taking advantage of its extremely high levels of Cabernet Sauvignon, this showcases sweet blueberry and blackberry notes, softened by the family signature of sexy glamour. Cedar oak is slightly dominant through the mid-palate, but it doesn't take long before the luscious damson fruit kicks in. This is a very good Petit Mouton, just starting to open up. Rich, round and ready to drink.

Wine Enthusiast 90: Big, solid, firm wine, with an edge that is a little farmyard. It has weight, though, along with smoky, fruity flavors of black plums. 

2013

Wine Advocate 89: The 2013 Le Petit Mouton, one of the go-to second labels under winemaker Philippe Dhalluin, has an attractive blackberry, raspberry coulis and bay leaf scented bouquet that is simple but fresh and well defined. The palate is medium-bodied and initially angular in the mouth. The sharp acidity slight jars at first, although there are attractive blackcurrant pastilles that leaven what could have been a hard finish, dominated by the Cabernet Sauvignon that comprised 93% of the blend. This is a great deuxième vin that punches above its weight for the vintage, even if it does not quite match its showing from barrel.

James Suckling 93: You really see the soil of Mouton in this wine with wet earth, stone and currants on the nose and palate. Full body, velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish.

Wine Enthusiast 89: While this wine has wood aromas, the palate also shows plenty of fruit. That combination gives it weight, spice and red-currant flavors along with juiciness. The wine has plenty of development ahead. Drink from 2019.

2014

Wine Advocate 92: The 2014 Le Petit Mouton has quite a sophisticated bouquet with black fruit, black truffle, pencil box and a light marine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with a graphite-driven entry, the acidity very well judged, gently building towards an elegant, supple finish that seems to caress the mouth. These days, Le Petit Mouton is equal to many Grand Vin in Pauillac—a remarkable melioration over the last decade.

James Suckling 93: Gun metal, blackcurrants, stones and blueberries. Sweet tobacco, too. Full-bodied, firm and powerful. Very minerally. 93% cabernet. Needs three to four years to soften. Layered and beautiful. Second wine of Mouton.

Vinous 92: The 2014 Le Petit Mouton has a deep and powerful bouquet with blackberry, raspberry preserve, cedar and sandalwood, pencil shavings (the latter becoming more and more evident with time in the glass.) The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, plenty of cedar and tar-infused black fruit offset by a fine thread of acidity. It is just missing some depth and fleshiness towards the finish that as a consequence feels a little austere and mean. But I suspect it will improve in bottle. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Decanter 91: With 93% Cabernet, this is more briary and powerful than usual, but still finely structured. The Mouton richness is there to come out.

2021

Wine Advocate 91: The 2021 Le Petit Mouton wafts from the glass with rich aromas of dark berries, cherries and cassis mingled with licorice, mint and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, it's dense and velvety, with sweet tannins and a long, expansive finish. As readers may remember, since Mouton-Rothschild itself this year derives exclusively from the two plateaus that always make up the core of the blend, the Petit Mouton benefits from the inclusion of parcels that often make it into the grand vin.

James Suckling 95: This is surprisingly full-bodied and round, reflecting the warmth and sunny exposure of the vineyard around the chateau. Tangy and vivid with currants, fresh flowers and plenty of energy and length. Delicate yet ripe. 77% cabernet sauvignon, 19.5% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 0.5% petit verdot. Needs two or three years to come together completely. Drink after 2027.

Decanter 92: Beautifully fragrant strawberries and red cherries, just so perfumed and appealing, really a very lovely nose drawing you in. An excellent Petit Mouton in 2021; serious intensity here but also such a liveliness as well as creaminess. It has weight and layers while having fruit intensity and a core of aromatics. There's a softness and delicacy in terms of the tannins and frame - beguiling - but a real base of concentrated blue, red and black fruits - strawberries, red cherries and blackcurrants. You get the stony tones and the clove on the finish but this feels round, expansive and approachable. It's uber glamorous, still with freshness and lift. A gorgeous wine with lots going on! 0.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.73pH. 14% press wine.

Wine Enthusiast 96: Barrel Sample. Big, rich and sumptuously smoky, this has density and power. Its blackberry tones are structured, with a core of tannins. This very fine wine has all the classic attributes of a Mouton, just slightly lighter.