Le Petit Mouton 2025

Le Petit Mouton is the second wine of Château Mouton Rothschild, the first growth estate in the northwest of Bordeaux within AOC Pauillac. The vineyards lie on the deep gravel banks of the Médoc, where the stony, free draining soils store daytime heat and ripen the late maturing Cabernet Sauvignon fully. The blend leads on Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot for flesh, Cabernet Franc for aromatic lift and Petit Verdot for colour and backbone, the classic left bank recipe. After fermentation the wine spends 18 months in 225 litre French oak barrels, the slow exchange of oxygen through the wood rounding the tannins and layering in cedar, tobacco and a touch of cocoa. The colour is deep and dark. The nose offers blackberry and blackcurrant with a refreshing hint of mint and cedar, while the palate is firm and structured, with ripe fruit framed by fine tannins and a savoury, lingering finish. Built to develop, it gains complexity with cellaring. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour before drinking. It is at its best with roast and grilled red meats.