Plenty of bitter chocolate character, but also a lot of cassis and flesh, the abundant fine tannins making this big, ripe wine very attractive. Long, imposing, but beautifully balanced finish. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019) - Stuart Pigott, jamessuckling.com, March 2019

The 2009 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild is shockingly good, and I'd wager this second wine is better than many vintages of the Grand Vin in the past. Deep ruby/plum-hued, with a ripe, up-front, expressive bouquet of currants, toasted spice, chocolate, and tobacco, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a lush, rounded mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish.

93 - The 2009 Le Petit Mouton is deep garnet colored and saunters out of the glass with bold black cherries, warm cassis and plum preserves notions plus hints of menthol, sassafras, black pepper and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely coated with generous black fruits, framed by plush tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long.Lisa Perrotti-Brown, March 2019

90 - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 29/02/2012
The 2009 vintage is administrator Philippe Dalhuin-s finest effort to date. I don-t think I have ever enjoyed a Le Petit Mouton (which represents 27% of their total production) more than his 2009, which is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Dense ruby/purple, with plenty of ripeness, it displays the famous Mouton creme de cassis intermixed with spring flowers, licorice and some background forest floor notes. This beauty can be drunk now or cellared for 15 or more years.

The second wine, the 2009 Le Petit Mouton, is the finest second wine they have ever made. Aromas of black currants, flowers, mocha, and earth jump from the glass of this fleshy, heady, full-bodied wine. The final blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, and the alcohol level is slightly higher than the Mouton's. It should drink well for 15+ years. (Tasted once.) (90-92)

A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc with around 8% vin de presse. This has a very deep purple/garnet core. The nose is quite rich, well defined, opulent for a Le Petit Mouton (obviously not so Petit this year!) Blackberry, a touch of plum, Mirabelle with just a hint of damon. Good lift. The palate is much more tannic than I expect, a feisty Le Petit Mouton, firm tannins, rigid structure with a touch of savoury fruit towards the spice-tinged finish. Moderate length. Perhaps it needs to calm down a bit...a bit tough on the finish. Tasted March 2010.

Quality 868 | Brand 811 | Economics 959 |

investment staple
Quality: Above the average quality score of its peer group for the 2009 vintage, 788 Brand: One of the most talked-about wines by the fine wine trade, with mention frequency in the top 10% in Wine Lister's proprietary Founding Member survey Economics: Above its peer group average price of £116 for the 2009 vintage Production:

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

[63CS 22M/15CF] Ripe blackberry fruit to the fore, and light wood cedar to smell; medium full, supple, fresh and lightly tannic; an easy, savoury wine, with its style clearly dominated by a flowing Merlot rather than a Cabernet Sauvignon grip; moderate complexity, nice light, juicy quality and medium length. With its high proportion of Merlot, and quite a lot of young vines in the blend, this is a very different wine from the impressive 2008, which is almost pure Cabernet Sauvignon (94%). Interestingly, whilst Petit Mouton is usually served after d'Armailhac and Clerc Milon, just before Mouton itself, this year it was offered first. One can see why. Pleasing rather than special. 2013-20