Petit Mouton - Pauillac 2022

Alexandre Ma

93

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

The 2022 “Petit Mouton” holds its own against select vintages of the flagship Mouton Rothschild. Crafted with 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, it exudes clear cedar undertones, while 60% new oak barrels impart aromas of star anise, cinnamon, and roasted hazelnuts. Compared to its En Primeurs tasting, the tannins in this vintage are notably more robust, yet its brilliance will undoubtedly shine with aging. To me, this wine is a tour de force that exudes elegance through precision, much like the monochromatic artistry of Yohji Yamamoto’s black designs.

Wine Advocate

88

byWilliam Kelleythe3/7/2025

The 2022 Le Petit Mouton opens in the glass with aromas of ripe black fruits, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and saddle leather. Full-bodied, rich and layered, it's built around powdery tannins that assert themselves on the discreetly drying finish. Greater aromatic purity and structural integration would have seen this score higher.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

93

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Beautiful texture that is evident immediately from the nose, this is succulent, intense but precise, creamy damson, violet and tender tannins, showcasing the expansion and opulence of Petit Mouton, 3,83ph. Harvest September 1 to 26, 27% of overall production in this wine.

Jeb DUNNUCK

96

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

Up there with the top second wines in the vintage, the deep purple-hued 2022 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild offers up textbook Pauillac (and Mouton) notes of ripe black fruits, spicy wood, crushed stone, and graphite, with a terrific floral character with air. It's medium to full-bodied, pure, layered, and flawlessly balanced. Drink bottles over the coming two decades.

Yvesbeck.wine

96

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot Le Petit Mouton commence par révéler des notes de torréfaction, mais pas de manière insistante. Elles sont rapidement entourées par des nuances de baies noires, de réglisse et une touche terreuse. Dense et friand en attaque, le vin pose les jalons d'entrée. Il est puissant, entraînant, gourmand et porté par des tannins aux grains fins canalisant douceur, austérité et tempérament, tous synonymes d'engouements et de perspectives. Un Petit Mouton qui montre les dents à son grand frère, mais plus par fraternité que par défi. 2028-2047 96/100

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Le Petit Mouton is a touch more backward than when I tasted it from barrel, but it offers wonderful purity with blackberry, cedar and light crushed stone aromas that blossom in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with graphite-tinged black fruit on the entry, showing impressive depth on the mid-palate. It is slightly plump and rounded in texture, with black plum and allspice notes towards the sustained finish. This is excellent.

Jamessuckling.com

96

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

A really flamboyant wine beginning with lots of berries, plums, asphalt and orange peel before turning to blue fruits. Full-bodied and medium round tannins give a softness and drinkability. Long finish. Give it three to four years to come together but already gorgeous. Hard not to drink now.

Vinous

91

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Le Petit-Mouton is a rich, powerful wine, almost exaggeratedly so in this vintage. A blast of dark cherry, plum, leather, cloves and licorice stains the palate with notable resonance. There's a lot of wine here, but the 2022 is going to need quite a few years to shed some of its considerable youthfulness. The long, sustained finish is very promising.

Wine Maniacs

93-94

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

94

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Darkly scented nose, liquorice, dark chocolate and black bramble fruits, smells rich, intense and fragrant. Smooth and supple, clean, clear and crisp, a nice purity to this with clear minerality and bite. A touch lean, some austerity here though balanced by juiciness and corresponding acidity, nicely bright but serious at the same time given the dark fruits and spiced edges. Tannins are well integrated, this is just a little sharp and straight, not yet softening and expanding but such great potential. Good grip and intensity, this is a powerful wine, focussed with persistence. A great stand out with lots of promise. 11.3% press wine - usually at 7-8% maximum. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.86pH. 80 IPT. Aged 60% in new barrels.

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Le Petit Mouton has an intense bouquet with violet infused cassis and blackberry fruit, just a faint touch of Medjool dates in the background. It opens extremely confidently in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. Structured, granular in texture and multi-layered, it's quite difficult to recognize this as a mere Deuxieme Vin. Long on the aftertaste, this is an outstanding Le Petit Mouton.

The Vintage Journal

94-95

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Medium deep. Cedar, roasted walnut, dark berry aromas with hints of herbs. Well concentrated oak dominant wine with ample dark cherry/ mocha cedar flavours, fine grainy/ gravelly tannins and integrated acidity. Impressively concentrated wine. Looking very good. 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc 3% Petit Verdot 60% new oak 14.2% alc

matthewjukes.com

18,5

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

92-94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

Made from 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild is deep garnet-purple colored. It needs considerable swirling to unlock notes of creme de cassis, stewed plums, and black cherries, with hints of charcoal, wood smoke, black olives, and tar. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam packed with black fruit and earthy layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a lingering aniseed note. pH 3.86, TPI 80.

Yvesbeck.wine

94-96

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Le Petit Mouton se veut identitaire, mais il signale d’entrée son appartenance à Mouton et à Pauillac. Ainsi, il révèle des nuances de graphite et des notes de café. On ne manquera pas de mentionner des notes de baies noires, de réglisse et de chocolat. Agréable douceur en bouche avec de la sucrosité dès l'attaque. Les tannins sont imposants et élégants. Leur précision et leur finesse de grain soulignent l’attention qui leur a été portée. Le vin est dense, élégant et bien soutenu par ses tannins et le côté vibrant d’une acidité structurante et tonique. Dans cette logique, la finale est juteuse, fruitée, légèrement saline et persistante. Un grand Petit !

Bettane & Desseauve

96

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Tout sauf petit, superbe par sa grande complexité aromatique et sa texture à peine moins riche que celle du grand vin. Dans ce millésime, le niveau affiché par la propriété impressionne notre équipe.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-96

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

Tasting more like a Grand Vin than a second wine, the 2022 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild boasts a deep purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of cassis, ripe blackberries, melted chocolate, espresso, and graphite. Rich, opulent, and still balanced, drink this sexy 2022 any time over the coming 15-20 years. The blend of the 2022 is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot that's still resting in 60% new barrels.

Vinous

91-93

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild is laced with sumptuous red-toned fruit, pomegranate, mint, blood orange and rose petal. Silky tannins wrap it all together in style. Le Petit Mouton captures the exotic side of the year nicely and yet retains terrific energy throughout. Drinking window : 2028-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

95-96

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Flowers, cherry pipe-tobacco, black raspberry, spearmint, black cassis, and plums open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is lush, fresh, sweet, spicy, pure, and rich, with a vibrant, long deep, black and blue fruit and tobacco packed finish. This is Jr. Mouton Rothschild! The wine blends 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19.% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.14.2% ABV, 3.86 pH. Drink from 2024-2045.

Wine Advocate

92-94

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

Representing some 29% of the estate's production this year, the 2022 Le Petit Mouton shares much of the character of the grand vin, offering up a rich bouquet of cassis, dark berries, espresso roast and cigar wrapper, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered palate that's fleshy and concentrated, with powdery tannins and an expansive finish.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

The Petit Mouton is more and more structured and intense. It's made for the cellar. Full to medium body. Lively and intense. Solid. 71% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, 7% cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot.