Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild

In the glass

Aroma: cassis, dark plum, cedar, tobacco leaf, subtle violet

Palate: black cherry, graphite, smooth tannins, licorice, light spice

Made specifically from younger vines harvested earlier to preserve freshness. Le Petit Mouton shows a younger, more approachable face of the Mouton house style: cassis-driven, with cedar and gentle tobacco, earlier-drinking but still structured.

What it pairs with

• Braised lamb shanks with rosemary
  Earthy herbs and slow-cooked lamb complement Le Petit Mouton's cedar and cassis character at an accessible price point.
• Duck breast with cherry reduction
  The wine's dark cherry and cassis notes echo the fruit reduction; duck fat is balanced by firm Cabernet tannins.
• Aged Gruyere
  Nutty hard cheese draws out Le Petit Mouton's tobacco and cedar subtlety.

How to serve Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass. The bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
4. Pair with. Braised lamb shanks with rosemary, Duck breast with cherry reduction, Aged Gruyere. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Le Petit Mouton was introduced with the 1994 vintage as a second wine bottled under the Mouton Rothschild estate. Unlike many second wines, it is made specifically from younger-vine fruit harvested at a separate, earlier date chosen to retain freshness and aromatic lift rather than simply from declassified grand vin lots.

1. 1994: First vintage of Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild

Facts

Producer

Chateau Mouton Rothschild · visiting guide

Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Classification

Pauillac AOC

Oak

18 months in 50% new French oak barriques

ABV

13.0%

Price

$120-200 at retail

Drinking window

5-20 from vintage

First vintage

1994

Frequently asked about Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild

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