The balance and richness of a Château Mouton Rothschild Second Wine
The estate: Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired Château Brane-Mouton at an auction in 1853, situated in the heart of the Médoc, Pauillac, renaming it Château Mouton Rothschild. In 1924, Baron Philippe de Rothschild took the helm of the estate, pioneering on-site bottling while designing the label. In 1973, Château Mouton Rothschild ascended to Premier Cru Classé status, becoming an emblem of the Pauillac appellation, bolstering Bordeaux’s global wine reputation.
The wine: Le Petit Mouton is the Second Wine of Château Mouton Rothschild.
The vineyard: Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild 2022 originates from a vineyard northwest of Bordeaux, in the Médoc. The vines thrive on gravelly soils, retaining heat and releasing it at night, facilitating grape ripening. These impoverished, well-draining soils overlay a clay-gravel subsoil, imparting the estate’s wines with distinct power, elegance, and tannic structure.
The vintage: 2022 witnesses a hot, arid climate, with intermittent rain showers reviving the soil. Despite scorching temperatures, deep-rooted vines adapt, commencing flowering ten days ahead, ensuring optimal grape ripening. Early September heralds harvesting, yielding grapes of exceptional concentration and equilibrium.
Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon (71%) Merlot (19%) Cabernet Franc (7%) Petit Verdot (3%)
Characteristics and tasting notes for Le Petit Mouton from Mouton Rothschild 2022
On the palate, profound and dense, marrying blackcurrant and black cherry aromas with nuanced hints of vanilla. Subtle traces of smoke, graphite, and chocolate augment the wine’s silky structure, culminating in an impressively prolonged finish.
