Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild 2016

A lovely combination of richness, density and spice; the oaky touch remains, and the finish is both sweet-and-sour, very fruity and easy to drink.

The gently steeped plum and red currant fruit allows light anise, iron and cedar notes to enter slowly before taking hold on the slightly taut, savory-tinged finish. The iron element lingers longest in the end, giving this a sense of refinement. Best from 2022 through 2035.

Petit Mouton always shows charm in a rich, seductive expression, even in muscular vintages like 2016. It has the most wonderful sweetness to it, a highly seductive mix of the austerity of 2016 with the natural joy and exuberance of Petit Mouton, showing lovely rich damson fruit and huge persistence. It needs time in the glass to open up.

Deep and dark berry aromas with a core of cedar and tobacco. Full-bodied, tannic and rich, with a solid backbone and excellent structure. Plenty of fruit and flavor. It goes on for minutes. One hell of a second wine for Mouton. Try after 2025.

Tasted blind. First bottle: Savoury, yeast-extract nose. A little awkward and sinewy on the palate. Lots of greenness on the finish. Actually very hard work. Second bottle: Still a rather indistinct nose. Then some fruit and pace on the palate, though a very drying finish overall. But the juice and freshness save it. (JR)

The 2016 Le Petit-Mouton is a wine of total precision and class. Bright floral notes lift the red berry fruit beautifully. Medium in body, with incredible persistence and exceptional poise, the 2016 Le Petit-Mouton is sublime. Blood orange, mint and chalky notes add further nuances of freshness throughout. The 2016 is all class.

The freshness, refined tannins and elegant stylings are already really coming alive. The juiciness in the berries, the length, purity and energy in the perfectly ripe red fruits is impossible not to notice. The soft, silky finish with its hint of spice and polish shines in this vintage. With an uncommonly high percentage of Merlot in the blend, this wine was made using 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc.

Dark ruby colour with purple reflections and a delicate lighter rim. The nose has hints of nougat, cassis and cherry, an attractive bouquet of red berries and a little orange zest. In the mouth there is fine cherry fruit, a silky texture, pronounced fruit, integrated, hardly noticeable tannins and a delicate touch of nougat on the finish. Elegant and persistent, this is already amazingly accessible.

Smoky, roasted and gravelly nose packed with dark berries, cassis and tobacco notes, very similar to the Grand Vin, yet one size smaller on the palate, without lacking concentration, offering a nice mouthfeel with plenty of smoky dark fruit, finely rounded tannins and fine polish, with a very long and elegant finish.

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 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, aged in 50% new French oak, it’s going to keep for 2–3 decades.

Deep purplish garnet. Dense cherry bouquet mixed with cassis and rosewood, with Burley tobacco and a touch of milk chocolate in the background. On the palate, powerful with fine, sandy tannins; the selection was ruthless, there’s (almost) no flesh left on the bone. Potential rating! Needs time! 17+/20

Kunz barrel sample 17: (62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc) Fresh, delicately floral and spicy bouquet, cassis, black berries, green herbs, raspberries, mocha. Medium-bodied, silky palate with good fruit, fine-sandy tannins, sweet aromatics, bitter aromatics, full finish.

(62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc) Fresh, subtly floral and spicy bouquet, cassis, black berries, green herbs, raspberries, mocha. Medium-bodied, silky palate with good fruit, fine-sandy tannins, sweet aromatics, bitter aromatics, full finish. 17/20 2023 - 2034

Superb aromatic expression, with blond tobacco, licorice and spicy notes typical of great Cabernets, great texture, noble and complex—a benchmark for this category.

Very solid, Le Petit Mouton 2016 asserts its volume and roundness, with restrained power and a tannin grain that will refine over time.

Garnet red with purple highlights. There’s no doubt about it: Le Petit Mouton is the little brother of Mouton Rothschild, and it takes inspiration from it with flair. With the big brother having made a few missteps beforehand, the Petit can simply enjoy the path already paved. It shows plenty of freshness, abundant fruit, and perfectly reflects the terroir. On the palate, the wine is dense, with precise tannins and a structure that brings pedigree as well as juiciness. This Le Petit Mouton is exceptional.

Dark, intense, beautiful color with a touch of evolution. Very aromatic nose with ripe fruit. Slightly smoky. Soft on the attack, juicy mid-palate and quickly quite powerful, even a touch rustic in its structure, but so aromatically rich; it finishes powerful and long. Fans of Saint-Estèphe will enjoy it as well. It’s very good.

The second wine of Château Mouton-Rothschild, this has some firmness without losing sight of the great fruit and ripe acidity that gives it a very accessible character. It should develop quickly and be ready to drink from 2022.