2018 Château Mouton-Rothschild, Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild, dry red wine

The second wine of Château Mouton Rothschild brings the signature of one of the great Bordeaux houses to the table – and 2018 is, moreover, a vintage of exceptional ripeness that gives the wine its most powerful expression to date.

Taste
Deep garnet-violet in the glass, the wine unfolds intense, almost opulent aromas of Morello cherries, blackcurrants, plums and black raspberries on the nose, underpinned by Chinese spices. On the palate it shows medium body with velvety, fine-grained tannins and aromas of red and black fruit preserves. The finish closes with a subtle hint of menthol – fresh and long.

Production
The blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc was made in a climatically challenging vintage that nevertheless gave the grapes exceptional ripeness. The wine was matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (225 L), which gives it structure and depth. Already approachable now, it will reveal its full potential with a few more years of bottle ageing.

Pairs with
A powerful companion to game dishes, beef goulash, red meat and strong cheeses – best served at 13-18°C.

In context
Since 1973, Château Mouton Rothschild has officially been one of the Premier Grand Cru Classé estates and thus one of the most important wineries in Bordeaux. Le Petit Mouton makes the style of this legendary house accessible without requiring the decades-long ageing of the Grand Vin. The 2018 vintage was rated 99 out of 100 points by the Wine Advocate and 91 out of 100 points by Robert Parker.

At a glance – facts

• Grape varieties: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc
• Region: A.O.C. Pauillac, Bordeaux
• Vintage: 2018
• Ageing: 18 months in French oak (225 L barriques)
• Colour: Deep garnet-violet
• Serving temperature: 13-18°C

A second wine that shows why Château Mouton Rothschild is one of the greatest names in Bordeaux.