Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild 2017 - Red Dry Wine - Pauillac AC

Produced from an exceptional terroir, Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild is the second wine of Château Mouton Rothschild.

Made with grapes from selected younger vines in the illustrious First Growth vineyard, it is harvested, vinified and bottled with the same scrupulous attention to detail. Harvested in small, open baskets, fermented in the Mouton oak vats, matured in oak barrels in the traditional way, all the conditions are met for the wine to express the elegance and richness of a great Pauillac.

In order to link the second wine more closely with its famous elder, illustrated by great artists since 1945, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild has chosen a label for Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild inspired by a drawing by the famous poster artist Jean Carlu.

A variation on the theme of the vine, the powerfully coloured drawing combines sensual shape with the clean geometries of the Art Deco style. It was made in 1927, following the artist’s design in the same period for the label for Château Mouton Rothschild 1924.

The first vintage, 1993, was called Le Second Vin de Mouton Rothschild, but it has borne its definitive name (which has a family connotation, Petit Mouton being the name of Baroness Philippine’s residence in the heart of the estate) since the following year, 1994.

Tasting notes

The wine has a deep colour with a crimson hue.

The nose abounds in fresh fruit aromas with hints of liquorice and pepper.

The flavours intensify after a fresh and expressive attack. Well-integrated and elegant tannins reveal a rich and smooth mid palate, contributing to the overall impression of harmony.

The long and persistent finish lingers on extremely pure blackcurrant notes.

Harvest : From 7 to 29 September

Climatic conditions

After a relatively mild winter with below average rainfall, frost hit the whole Bordeaux terroir on 27 April, though only two Aile d’Argent parcels situated in the coldest parts of the vineyard were affected. 2017 will also be remembered for a particularly lengthy drought, which did not truly end until December.

Spurred by above average temperatures, the vine growth cycle started slightly earlier than usual, at the end of March. Exceptional weather in April and May meant that flowering occurred 10 days earlier than the average for all varieties. After a very wet June, the summer was moderately sunny but dry, increasing a water deficit which started in 2016. As a result, the grapes remained small, with concentrated sugar and colour.

With an early growth cycle and a dry summer, the 2017 harvest was particularly early. It was also exceptionally long, as picking took place over four weeks across the three estates. At Château Mouton Rothschild, the harvest started with the Aile d’Argent parcels from 30 August to 5 September and continued with the red grapes from 7 to 29 September. Running-off ended on 20 October and blending was finalised in December.

The wines are rich, with a deep colour and an attractive tannic structure, both full-bodied and pleasantly fresh even though 2017 is a “solar” vintage. Less wine was made than in an average year because of the drought.

Vintage : 2017

Alcohol : 13.5%

Region : Bordeaux

Appellation : Pauillac AC

Varietal mix : 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc