Wine Advisor
Le Petit Mouton 2005
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Beautiful blackcurrant fruit dominates the 2012 Le Petit Mouton de Rothschild. Pure, juicy, succulent, with ripe tannin and a medium to full-bodied, supple mouthfeel, this is a sexy second wine to drink over the next 12-15 years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Claret Club Mouton-Rothschild dinner. The Le Petit Mouton 2005 is open and generous on the nose that is very “Pauillac” with pencil lead dominating the rather “strict” aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy entry, perhaps a little shallow, with touches of black olive and lemon rind interlacing the tannic, rather dry finish. Fine, but drink now. Tasted November 2010.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2005 Le Petit Mouton has a very expressive, vivacious bouquet with dark cherries, tobacco and even a hint of violet plucked from Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a little more structure than the 2010, supremely well detailed, but perhaps just missing the sustain of that aforementioned younger vintage. Still, this an extremely fine Le Petit Mouton drinking now and over the next 15-20 years. Tasted August 2016.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A leafy, herbaceous note at first, but with time in the glass a nice espresso tinged nose comes forth. Firm tannins, well-integrated new oak. Quite toasty, good depth and acidity. Blackcurrant, touch of tobacco with a conservative finish. Good but not great. Tasted April 2006.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2005 Le Petit Mouton, a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot, is a charming, plush, medium-bodied effort displaying loads of fruit and character. It should drink well for 15+ years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
An excellent second wine, the 2005 Le Petit Mouton exhibits soft, lush, subtle herb-infused black currant fruit along with notions of licorice, smoke, and burning embers. Enjoy this well-made effort over the next 7-8 years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Le Petit Mouton 2005 has a ripe, quite intense bouquet: raspberry coulis, sage, cloves and a touch of undergrowth. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, nicely balanced with a mulberry and red plum finish that is delightful, even if it does not quite have the precision or sophistication of more recent vintages. This is drinking beautifully now but it will continue to cruise for another decade.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted single blind at Southwold. An exceptional performance from this Second Wine in blind conditions although it does come across as more subdued on the nose. A little animally, more red fruits than black with wild hedgerow and sous-bois coming through. The palate is full-bodied, firm tannins, nice weight, better than the nose suggested. Harmonious svelte, very fine tannins…a deft wine but driven as much by the quality of oak as the fruit. But there is a pleasant citrus attack on the finish and the longer it stays in the mouth the more I warm to it. Drink 2011-2020. Tasted January 2009.
About the Producer
The history of Château Mouton Rothschild dates back to the mid-19th century when Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild purchased the estate in Pauillac, a commune in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France. The estate's vineyards were already well-established at the time, but Rothschild invested heavily in modernizing and expanding the winery, including building new cellars and importing new grape varieties. Le Petit Mouton, which translates to "The Little Sheep" in English, is a second wine produced by Château Mouton Rothschild. Second wines are made from grapes that come from younger vines or from less prestigious vineyard parcels than the grand vin, the top wine produced by the winery. Le Petit Mouton was first introduced in 1993 as a way to showcase the quality of the estate's younger vines and to create a more accessible wine that could be enjoyed earlier than the grand vin, which typically requires several years of aging. Since its introduction, Le Petit Mouton has become a highly regarded wine in its own right, known for its rich flavors, elegant structure, and approachability. The wine is made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes, and is aged in French oak barrels for around 16 months before bottling. The label features a whimsical illustration of a little sheep, a nod to the wine's name and to the estate's long history of using animal motifs on its labels.
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