2016 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild

Falls slap bang exactly where you want it, and a true stepping stone, or upramp onto the 1st wine, love it. Creme caramel, campfire, cold ash, brambed blackberry and damson fruits, plentiful tannins laced with espresso and black chocolate with the grilled vanilla bean of new oak, measured and melted. Who wouldn't enjoy sinking into this? Philippe Dhalluin technical director.

The 2016 Le Petit Mouton has a very expressive, outgoing bouquet of copious red and black fruit, cedar and mint; scents of pressed violet petals emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins, very lithe and pliant. The caressing, silky-smooth finish of tobacco-tinged red fruit reveals a dab of spiciness on the aftertaste. Two bottles tasted, one just missing some backbone, although the second is better. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

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. (JR)