Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild 2014

Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild 2014 is the prestigious second wine of Château Mouton Rothschild, one of Bordeaux’s five First Growths. Produced from selected younger vines within the Mouton Rothschild vineyard in Pauillac, Petit Mouton benefits from the same exceptional terroir and meticulous attention to detail as the Grand Vin. The grapes are harvested by hand in small baskets, vinified in Mouton’s oak vats and matured traditionally in barrel.

The 2014 vintage is particularly distinctive for Petit Mouton. After an uneven summer, Bordeaux experienced an exceptional Indian summer from late August through October, bringing prolonged warm, dry and sunny conditions. This allowed the Cabernet Sauvignon to achieve excellent phenolic maturity while retaining the freshness and definition that have become hallmarks of the vintage. Harvest took place between 19 September and 9 October.

The final blend is an extraordinary 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and just 7% Merlot, making the 2014 one of the most Cabernet-dominant expressions of Petit Mouton and giving the wine a particularly classical Pauillac character.

In the glass, the wine shows a deep ruby to garnet colour. The nose combines ripe blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum with graphite, pencil shavings and subtle mineral notes. With air, layers of tobacco, cocoa, vanilla, toasted oak and gentle smoky notes emerge, adding complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

The palate is concentrated yet beautifully controlled. Cassis and dark berry fruit sit at the core, supported by fine, rounded tannins and fresh acidity. Graphite, iron, tobacco and subtle spice reinforce its Left Bank identity, while the texture remains polished and silky. There is considerable structure here for a second wine, but also the richness and refinement associated with Mouton. The finish is long, focused and mineral, with the Cabernet Sauvignon providing persistence and definition. 

At more than a decade from vintage, the 2014 is entering an excellent drinking phase. Its Cabernet-dominant structure has softened sufficiently to reveal greater aromatic complexity while retaining ample fruit and freshness.

Appellation: Pauillac
Classification: Second Wine of Château Mouton Rothschild
Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot