2018 Le Petit Mouton
By Chateau Mouton Rothschild
2018 Le Petit Mouton from Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 2018 vintage in Bordeaux was one marked by climatic challenges that ultimately birthed a collection of wines with magnetic appeal, notably the venerable 2018 Le Petit Mouton from Château Mouton Rothschild. Amidst this context, the skills of viticulture and winemaking were put to the test, revealing a treasure trove of depth, complexity, and potential longevity in the resultant vintages.
An Ensemble of Elegance and Power
Scanning the mosaic of Bordeaux's 2018 vintage offers a glimpse into how adept wineries pivoted amid adversity to produce opulent offerings. The 2018 Le Petit Mouton is a testament to such adaptability. On tasting, it presents as a harmonious blend of intensity and finesse – characteristics indicative of Pauillac's pedigree and the deft artistry at Château Mouton Rothschild. A second wine that is anything but secondary, it pulsates with vibrant dark fruit underscored by a tapestry of fine-grained tannins.
X-factor in Terroir-driven Triumph
Le Petit Mouton, while often dwelling in the shadow of its mythic elder sibling, has emerged in 2018 as a formidable contender in its own right. The distinctive terroir plays its part magnificently, rendering cassis, pencil shavings and a hint of tobacco on the palate – a bouquet so evocative of Pauillac's gravely foothold.
Investors will note that this vintage carries forth the legacy of its great lineage whilst offering nuanced drinking experiences that appeal to those seeking earlier maturation curves yet unwilling to compromise on sophistication and depth. With likely rewards for those with the foresight to cellar proficiently, this vintage signifies an astutely investable asset.
Conclusion: Captivating Character in Every Cellar
The 2018 Le Petit Mouton is a voice from Château Mouton Rothschild that speaks vividly of its birth year's narrative – an expression full of character and an embodiment of resilience. For connoisseurs and investors alike, this vintage from Pauillac is not simply to be collected but to be celebrated; a paragon from a year that resolutely flouted expectations to gift us wines of transcendent quality.
Market price (CAD)
$3,110.00
12x75cl
Highest score
97
POP score
110
Scores and tasting notes
This is phenomenal with such dense and layered tannins that go on for minutes. It’s full-bodied with blackberries, blueberries and chocolate. Sexy and so beautiful. Not sure what to say here. Maybe it should have gone into the first wine?
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com - April 2019
The 2018 Le Petit Mouton is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. It represents about 26% of the total crop and has 14% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it struts its way out of the glass with showy, flamboyant scents of Morello cherries, blackcurrant pastilles, preserved plums and black raspberries, plus suggestions of potpourri and Chinese five spice. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers fantastic freshness with velvety tannins and loads of spicy sparks emanating from the red and black berry preserves layers, finishing with a minty kick.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 31 March 2021
The 2018 Le Petit Mouton is blended of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, harvested September 10 to October 3. It represents about 26% of the total crop and has 14% alcohol—the alcohol has never been this high! Deep garnet-purple, it comes bounding out of the glass with sit-up-and-beg notes of crème de cassis, plum preserves and mulberries plus nuances of chocolate box, Chinese five spice, licorice and candied violets. Full-bodied, rich and oh-so-hedonic, the palate is packed with juicy black fruit layers wrapped in a firm, velvety structure, with loads of fragrant spice layers on the very long finish.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 23rd April 2019
Fresh and pure, with a mouthwatering edge to the cassis and bitter plum flavors that form the core. A bright iron streak defines the finish. Very focused.—J.M.
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator - April 2019
This is a serious, deep and beautifully enticing wine with plenty of that glossy, glamorous Petit Mouton appeal. Ripe damson in colour, it has more Merlot in the blend than a typical year because only a small amount of the variety made it through to the first wine. The Merlots were however, as you see at many Médoc properties, unusually rich and structured and this feels enveloping and hard to resist. Extraction was slow and careful and the liquorice, chocolate, grilled sarment notes are subtle but pressing. Yields were 28hl/ha whereas a usual year would be closer to 35hl/ha. 26% of overall production, a little less than usual, and 11% press wine.
Jane Anson - Decanter - April 2019
The 2018 Le Petit-Mouton is unusual in that it contains a high (40%) amount of Merlot. Pliant, racy and supple, the Petit-Mouton should drink well with minimal cellaring. In many vintages, Petit-Mouton is a smaller-scaled version of the Grand Vin, but in 2018, the elevated presence of Merlot yields a wine that is quite different in style, with softer contours and a much gentler overall feel than is often the case. The blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Yields were about 28 hectoliters per hectare as opposed to 34-37.
Antonio Galloni - Vinous - April 2019