LE PETIT MOUTON 2nd wine of Ch. Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac 2022 Bottle

Description

Château Mouton Rothschild, a renowned First Growth in the 1855 Classification, boasts a rich history of winemaking dating back to Roman times. Acquired by the Rothschild family in 1853, it transformed dramatically under Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who pioneered château-bottling in 1924 and initiated the artistic label tradition featuring contributors like Salvador Dalí and Picasso. Today, the estate spans 83 hectares, primarily planted with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, with an average vine age of 45 years. The 2022 Le Petit Mouton exemplifies this legacy, receiving scores of 92-96 points from critics including Decanter and James Suckling, praised for its rich fruit, silky tannins, and promising aging potential. Enjoyable now, it will further develop through 2042.

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A first growth in the 1855 Classification, Château Mouton Rothschild has a long and storied history; wine has been made here since Roman times.

The estate has been in the Rothschild family since 1853, but it wasn’t until the arrival of Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1922 that its fortunes were transformed. Baron Philippe was a dynamic figure and revolutionised the estate. He was the first to introduce château-bottling, as early as 1924.
Baron Philippe also introduced the concept of commissioning an artist to design each new vintage’s label. Some of the most notable contributors include Salvador Dalí, Henry Moore, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Anish Kapoor.

His daughter Baroness Philippine continued to help raise Ch. Mouton Rothschild to new heights with numerous endeavours, including the inauguration of a new vat house in 2013.

Today, her three children, Philippe and Camille Sereys de Rothschild and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild, continue the efforts of their predecessors.

Following the retirement in 2020 of Philippe Dhalluin, the winemaking team is now headed up by Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy. Danjoy, who was already in place as Director at Ch. Clerc Milon, brings with him considerable experience. He had also worked alongside Dhalluin for over a decade.

The estate, which spans 83 hectares of vines, is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), Merlot (18%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (1%). The average age of the vines is around 45 years.

In style, the wines have immense appeal, with exotic, powerful aromas of cassis, minerals, tobacco leaf and graphite, backed by an opulence on the palate and impressive length on the finish. “Flamboyant” is a word sometimes used in tasting notes, and in comparative blind tastings this attribute is frequently what sets Mouton apart.