2021 Le Petit Mouton Pauillac 1,5 l
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Tasting notes
Le Petit Mouton rarely disappoints and, even in a more challenging vintage like 2021, it retains a wonderful elegance and high level of precision. There is wonderful clarity to the cassis fruit and a real crispness too. This has moderate levels of concentration which fits perfectly with its elegant profile. Despite its linearity, there is a good concentration of juicy fruit and it comes across as a very complete wine that will give years of drinking pleasure. If the second wines have largely suffered in 2021, Le Petit Mouton is the most notable exception. Aged in 50% new oak. Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19.5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Petit Verdot
Critic scores
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Bright crimson. Sweet and sweaty. Then very toasty and flattering. Not top-drawer but wanting to please. (JR)
The second wine of this great château, the 2021 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild offers up a mini-Mouton-like nose of pure cassis, graphite, and spicy oak and hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, plenty of fruit and richness, and almost velvety tannins. Based on 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged in 50% new barrels, this textured, focused, impressively concentrated 2021 will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age (which is rare for a second wine) and cruise for 10-15+ years in cold cellars.
As I found out of barrel, the 2021 Le Petit Mouton has a pronounced graphite/pencil box-scented bouquet that makes it very classic in style. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins for a Deuxième Vin and fine salinity—a Le Petit Mouton with grip and backbone. There’s maybe just a little hardness to contend with toward the finish? Give this two or three years in bottle.