The 2007 Mouton Rothschild is a gorgeous wine, especially within the context of the vintage. Open, expressive aromatics and forward fruit make the 2007 an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next two decades or so. Although the 2007 is not an epic Mouton, it is without question one of the best recent vintages for current drinking. Smoke, tobacco, cedar and licorice add the closing shades of nuance. Warm weather resulted in an unusually early start to the growing season. Summer was not especially warm, but a hot, dry September pushed the raisins through the final phase of ripening. The blend is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot. Harvest took place between September 26 and October 11.

Tasted at BI Wine & Spirits' 10-Years-On tasting, the 2007 Le Petit Mouton has a rather austere bouquet with earthy, leathery black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with quite chewy tannin, plenty of red berry fruit, orange rind and clove, building towards quite a weighty finish that perhaps just lacks the class of more recent vintages. At ten years on, this Deuxième Vin is proving to be longer-lasting than many expected, and even though it is surpassed by more recent, finely-tuned vintages, it remains a satisfying Pauillac. Tasted February 2017.

– The Wine Advocate#231, June 2017

Medium red-ruby. Expressive nose melds currant, cherry, tobacco leaf and fresh herbs. Supple and drinkable already, with a fragrant component of exotic smoky oak adding interest to the dark berry and herbal flavors. Finishes slightly tart, with a fine dusting of tannins.

Dark but browning crimson. Smells very sweet on the nose, almost slightly oxidised. Wonder if it is the bottle? Dry and a bit flat on the palate. Tannins still surprisingly firm. Not a lot of pleasure. (JH)