FEATURES
🏰The 2015 Le Petit Mouton from Chateau Mouton Rothschild is an 【incredibly powerful and assertive second wine】 that rivals many estates' top offerings, showcasing the triumphs of Pauillac in an acclaimed year. This Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc) presents a medium-deep garnet purple color and an intense bouquet of ripe, seductive cassis, crushed blackberries, and black forest cake notes, giving way to hints of menthol, new leather, chargrill, and bouquet garni. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied with a bright, racy line of refreshing acidity cutting through generous flavors, supported by a solid frame of grainy tannins and a vibrant, mineral-driven finish. James Suckling praised its extreme perfume with dried flowers and dark berries, integrated tannins, and chocolate, walnut, and cedar character, noting it goes on for minutes.
🍴 This superb second wine is an excellent match for classic French dishes like roasted lamb, beef tenderloin, or duck confit. Its rich fruit and firm structure also complement truffle dishes and aged hard cheeses.
🥂 Ideal for a significant dinner, a special celebration, or as a prized addition to a fine wine collection. While approachable now, it has the structure to age gracefully for many years, with some suggesting it will drink well from 2022 onwards.
BACKGROUND
Château Mouton Rothschild is located in the commune of Pauillac, in the Medoc, 30 miles (50km) northwest of the city of Bordeaux. The estate comprises 90 hectares (222 acres) of vineyards, mainly on gravel-based soils, and is situated in the northern part of the commune just south of Château Lafite Rothschild. Most of the vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, with 15 percent planted to Merlot and a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The vineyard, typically for top Medoc estates, is densely planted and the average vine age is more than 40 years old. Harvest is done by hand, and the juice is fermented in oak vats in a gravity-fed vat room opened in 2012. After fermentation, the wine sees 22 months in new oak before bottling.
