Wine Advisor
Le Petit Mouton 2015
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
This second label of Mouton Rothschild is composed of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, representing approximately 25% of the crop. Medium-deep garnet purple colored, the 2015 Le Petit Mouton opens with ripe, seductive cassis, crushed blackberries and black forest cake notes giving way to hints of menthol, new leather, chargrill and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied with a bright, racy line of refreshing acidity cutting through the generous flavors, it has a solid frame of grainy tannins and a vibrant finish. Very impressive.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Le Petit Mouton is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, matured in 40% new oak and the remainder one-year-old. It has a very intense bouquet for this deuxième vin, a far cry from the rustic wines produced in the 1990s. It is almost opaque, a wall of blackberry, cassis and tobacco aromas, perhaps the most powerful that I have ever tasted under this label. Over ten minutes, I noticed it become more sensual and rounded. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, like the aromatics, incredibly powerful and assertive. Wonderful delineation here, very mineral-driven with a bravura of a finish. It begged the question...is this really a second wine? Maybe they should rename it "Le Grand Mouton"? It is amazing to think how humdrum vintages of this were in the 1990s. This is a completely different wine to those.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Le Petit Mouton was so impressive when I tasted it from barrel and it is damn impressive now that it is in bottle. It displays impressive precision and detail on the nose: black fruit, cedar and graphite, just a hint of violet borrowed from down in Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannin, a brisk line of acidity, almost Burgundy-like in terms of texture thanks to its seamless, satin-textured finish. This comes highly recommended.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2015 Le Petit-Mouton is a wine of nobility and pedigree. Sumptuous and generous on the palate, with gorgeous aromatic intensity, the 2015 has so much to offer. In this vintage, Petit is exceptionally refined and nuanced in every way. Time in the glass brings out the wine's more floral and red-toned side. Silky, ripe tannins add to the wine's total allure.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2015 Le Petit Mouton opens with striking, expressive aromatics. Graphite, smoke, charcoal and blackberry jam are fused together in a deep, beautifully layered Pauillac. The 2015 is impressive from start to finish. This is an especially strong Petit Mouton endowed with real class. Tasted two times.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Le Petit Mouton feels a little closed on the nose, which displays pronounced undergrowth and sage-like aromas but is not quite endowed with the energy of the excellent Saint-Juliens. The fresh, vibrant palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity and fine precision toward the finish, so that it ends on a high note. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
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.
1994(1)1996(2)2003(1)2005(4)2006(2)2007(9)2008(3)2009(6)2010(9)2011(5)2012(7)2013(8)2014(12)
Package Size
12 x 75cl3 x 1.5L
