Region | |
---|---|
Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
This is the rarely-seen second wine of Mouton Rothschild. Normally sold to previous buyers only.
This is a very powerful Petit Mouton with so much rich fruit and power. Full-bodied, tannic yet polished and long. Muscular for the second wine of Mouton.
The 2016 Le Petit Mouton is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep garnet-purple color and gives up an intensely plummy nose with cigar box and fallen leaves scents leading to aroma layers of kirsch, red and black currants and tilled soil. Medium-bodied with a racy line of freshness cutting through the muscular fruit and a good, firm frame of grainy tannins to support, it finishes on a lingering menthol note. Drink 2021-2041.
This is full of the signature Petit Mouton sexiness, with soft grilled coffee bean edges to the aromatics and a touch of glamour, totally delicious. The fine tannins are soft and full of beauty, just chewy enough to pull you in and make you want to stick around. The structure builds through the palate and the final impression is of a big wine majoring on fully ripe fruit. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc.
Drinking Window 2025-2040
Tasted blind. First bottle: Savoury yeast-extract nose. A little awkward and sinewy on the palate. Lots of greenness on the end. Actually very hard work. Second bottle: Still rather an indistinct nose. Then some fruit and pace on the palate, though very drying finish overall. But the juice and freshness saves it.
Drink 2026 – 2043
In the running for the best second wine, the 2016 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton stands firmly on its own two feet and offers beautiful, classic Pauillac notes of crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, and lead pencil shavings. Surpassing most grand vins, this rich, flamboyant effort is full-bodied and mouthfilling, with good acidity and thrilling amounts of fruit. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, brought up in 50% new French oak, it’s going to keep for 2-3 decades. Drink 2019-2049.
Sweet ripe fruit the nose has depth the start of the palate lighter with fresh black fruits less concentration. It opens up towards the back with ripe cassis and black cherry and although richer the finish is firm and tight. 2025-37
Just less than a third of the production at Mouton went into the second wine in 2016, and this is very much a chip off the same block as the Grand Vin. Structured, richly oaked and spicy, with firmish, but well-integrated tannins and a refreshing lift of acidity. 2022-30
The 2016 Le Petit Mouton is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc; it will be matured in 45% new oak, a little lower than in previous year (it used to be 60%). It has around 13.3% alcohol. It has a clean and precise bouquet with black berry, pencil shavings, crushed violet and a touch of oyster shell. The palate is medium-bodied with supple and ripe tannin, very harmonious and blessed with a satin-like texture. It is a more understated Le Petit Mouton, but you almost miss the precision and detail, the mineralité on the linear finish. This has great potential thanks to the sheer quality of the tannins here. Drink 2021 - 2045.
Solid, muscular nose. Almost a bitter streak on the end it's so firm! Lots of black fruits and real juiciness. Some lift and life. A very zesty wine with admirable length. But not heavy on the flesh!
Drink 2026-2040