Critic Notes
This is really exceptional with beautiful chocolate and blackberry character. It's full and velvety with gorgeous ripe tannins. Loving this. Wonderful richness and length. jamessuckling.com
Score: 94-95/100James Suckling
Faint aromas of rich fruits, caramel and chocolate emanate from le Petit Mouton. Composed of 68%Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, it bears subtle tannins and reveals rich damson and soft fruits. It will be ready to drink after ten years.
Score: 17.5-/20Ivor Davies
Rich aromas of cassis and mocha chocolate, explosive, even exotic, with firm tannins to back it up, will give great pleasure. Drink 2015-25. Steven Spurrier, decanter.com
Score: 17.5-/20Decanter
The 2010 Le Petit Mouton is one of the best ever made. Philippe Dhalluin has conjured such purity on the nose that it's almost like Bordeaux doing an impression of Burgundy, though the latter would not be sporting those subtle cedar and mint aromas. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, much more approachable than other 2010 Pauillacs, but with tremendous sensuality and poise, a saline note on the finish lending length and detail. This is highly recommended. Tasted August 2016. Jan 2017, www.robertparker.com
Score: 93-/100Neal Martin
Offers a solid, muscular beam of raspberry and red currant, with sweet spice and tobacco in the background. The round finish of roasted vanilla is nicely integrated already, and this nicely rounded overall. Tasted non-blind. James Molesworth, winespectator.com
Score: 91-94/100Wine Spectator
It is a fabulous wine, but if you want to drink something reminiscent of Mouton Rothschild before 2025, it is probably worth taking a look at the 2010 Le Petit Mouton, which seems to be going from strength to strength at this estate. This wine has 14% natural alcohol because there is more Merlot in it. (Merlot is riper and ferments into slightly higher alcohol than Cabernet Sauvignon.) This wine represents 26% of the crop. The creme de cassis character is also present, along with tobacco leaf, cedar, and a more evolved, chocolaty, spicy note. Opulent, fleshy and round, it should drink well for two decades. Wine Advocate.February, 2013
Score: 91-/100Robert Parker
The deep purple 2010 Petit Mouton offers up notes of blackberries, blueberries, cedar and plums, with a lovely freshness in the middle palate and firm rounded tannins. Made in a generous style, unlike the grand vin which is heavy and thick, this wine will be best enjoyed with at least five or more years of bottle age. asianpalate.com
Score: 90-91/100Jeannie Cho Lee MW
Le Petit Mouton de Rothschild - From an assemblage of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, the wine is spicy, with bright cassis, oak and earth in the nose. Medium bodied with fresh cassis and dark berries, this is the best vintage of this wine I recall tasting. This Pauillac will show well young. winecellarinsider.com
Score: 89-91/100Jeff Leve
Tasted 17 Feb: Very dark. Big spicy nose. Some slight green notes – a bit pinched. Lots of tannin here! Maybe second wines will be a little disappointing in 2010? Raw fruit. Tasted 8 Apr: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc. A slightly green note arising, and quite slim on the palate. Fresh and easy and certainly no excess of tannin on the basis of this sample. An easy wine that seems much less ambitious than the other ‘seconds of the firsts’. Sweet on the finish. Then a little inky. Overall much softer than the earlier sample. jancisrobinson.com
Score: 16-/20Jancis Robinson
