The 2012 Mouton Rothschild continues to open up nicely. Forward, open and quite expressive, the 2012 looks like a wine that will drink well sooner rather than later. Dark cherry, plum, graphite, smoke and mocha meld into the inviting finish. The 2012 is not a huge wine, but it will open up sooner than some of the surrounding vintages. Time has only been a help for this open-knit, distinctly fruit-driven Mouton. The 2012 is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc harvested during the first fifteen days of October.

Classic grilled cedar and raspberry puree, with the toasted vanilla bean that is such signature Petit Mouton. Fairly high acidities that turn into a whoosh of mouthwatering power. This is skillful and expert winemaking, and it manages a feeling of effortless pleasure with careful architecture and muscular tannins. Gorgeous 2nd wine, a standout in the line up, ready to drink with a carafe, still plump and seductive. The character of the vintage suits Petit Mouton.

The 2012 Le Petit Mouton represents 38% of the crop, which is much higher than the normal 25% that usually makes it into the second wine. Composed of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, it reveals similar black currant liqueur notes, but they are less intense and pervasive. Administrator Philippe Dhalluin has fashioned a wonderfully opulent, round, juicy Petit Mouton exhibiting plenty of chocolaty notes intermixed with a subtle hint of oak offered in a lush, easily understood style. Enjoy this charming, endearing Le Petit Mouton over the next 15+ years. Mouton Rothschild has produced one of the vintage-s most profound wines in 2012, and possibly the -wine of the Medoc.- About 49% of the production made it into the 2012 Mouton, which is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. The harvest took place during the middle two weeks of October. This may be one of the few 2012s that comes close to equaling what was achieved in both 2009 and 2010, two far superior vintages.

The 2012 Le Petit Mouton de Rothschild (79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc) shows loads of charcoal, burning embers, a nice hint of dark chocolate and blackcurrants. It is fleshy and medium-bodied, with up-front fruit and density. This second wine of Mouton has certainly gone from strength to strength under the administration of Philippe Dhalluin. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.

Delivers a juicy, briar-framed core of plum and cassis, with savory and tobacco leaf notes already emerging on the finish. The tannins are supple, suggesting this will be very approachable from the beginning. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.

Huge amount of toast on the nose, with coconut and baked blackberry. A big Cabernet bruiser – quite risky in a vintage where conditions favour delicacy – but expressive nonetheless.

Tasted twice en primeur at Mouton-Rothschild. The Petit Mouton is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It has a very austere nose for Petit Mouton with strong dry tobacco and graphite aromas – more like Latour than Mouton! The palate is medium-bodied with juicy black fruit laced with minerals and tobacco. This has impressive volume and length for a Le Petit Mouton with a sweet finish of small dark cherries and hints of vanilla pod. It displays fine delineation throughout. It will not be a long-term wine, but it should offer much pleasure from five or six years. Tasted April 2013.

[79CS/19M/2CF] Marked gravel on the nose and a light red fruit; the dry, leaner year’s style here too; fresh, very finely tannic; a light, dry, refined fruit core, but limited concentration of flavour, with a delicate complexity across the palate, quite aromatic and with medium, gravelly length. 2020-28. [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

Some herbal and chocolate character with good fruit. Spices and tobacco too. Medium-to-full body. Second wine of Mouton. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc.

Quality 705 | Brand 811 | Economics 972 |
Quality: Above the average quality score of its peer group for the 2012 vintage, 703 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: The 2012 vintage has exceptional long term price performance, with 3 year CAGR of 27% Production:

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

[17-] Drink 2018-2025 Dark crimson. Opulent, already open nose. Really rather soft on the palate – chercher les tannins! This seems deliberately to have been made to be drunk early. Tingly and vibrant. Mouton Lite indeed!