Petit Mouton (2nd wine of Mouton Rothschild) 2019

The 2019 Le Petit Mouton has an expressive nose, a mixture of red and black fruit, gravel, cedar and tobacco, quite Saint-Julien in style. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite smooth in texture, modest depth and maybe just missing some grip towards the finish. Nicely balanced, this Deuxième Vin should drink well for 15-20 years. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

Score: 91

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2040 01 February 2023

The 2019 Le Petit Mouton was blended earlier than usual at the end of November and sees 50% new oak. It has a bold nose that wants to make a statement: copious black fruit, raspberry, hints of gingerbread and marmalade in the background, a multi-faceted nose that I have come to expect from this Deuxième Vin in recent years. The palate is just gorgeous: seductive black fruit laced with white pepper, very fine tannins, pitch perfect balance and an exceedingly precise finish that is frankly Grand Vin worthy. Outstanding.

Score: 93 - 95

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2044 16 June 2020

The 2019 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild is one heck of a second wine and has a rare level of depth and density. A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot, it reveals a dense ruby/purple hue to go with textbook Pauillac notes of cedar pencil, smoke tobacco, spice box, blackcurrants, and graphite. Deep, rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, it's probably better than many vintages of the Grand Vin. I absolutely love its purity of fruit, balance, and structure. It needs a healthy decant if drinking any time soon and will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age, but it will have over two decades of longevity. Just don't tell yourself it's a second wine and you'll think you're drinking the Grand Vin.

Score: 95

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2026-2044 11 April 2022

The 2019 Le Petit-Mouton is flat-out gorgeous. The energy, tension and delineation here are all first class. There is no doubt in my mind that in a previous era, this could have been a First Growth wine. Maybe not in a truly great vintage, but certainly in anything less than that. Bright red-toned fruit, rose petal, mint and blood orange all run through the 2019, lending notable depth to play off the wine's freshness. I am every bit as excited about the Petit Mouton as I was en primeur. It is a fabulous wine in every way. Wow!

Score: 94

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026-2039 01 February 2022

Cool ash and campfire fragrance envelops you from the beginning, followed by dense layers of blackberry, bilberry, cassis, espresso, and cocoa bean. This is easy to love, engaging and charming, although it builds in power and the tannins become pretty chewy through the finish. Harvest September 19 to October 5 (a little earlier that Clerc and Armailhac because Mouton is always an early terroir due to its abundance of pure gravel). 50% new oak.

Score: 94

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2040 12 January 2022

Composed of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot, harvested from the 18th of September to the 5th of October, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2019 Le Petit Mouton charges out of the glass with gregarious scents of baked black cherries, plum preserves and blackcurrant cordial followed by hints of cumin seed, candied violets and licorice with a waft of dried Provence herbs. Medium-bodied, the palate has a real skip in its step, offering fresh, cheery black berry flavors and a grainy texture, supported by oodles of freshness, finishing long with invigorating spice and herbal sparks.

Score: 92 - 94

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 09 June 2020