Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild 2020

The structure and precision of Château Mouton Rothschild Second Wine

The estate

It was in 1853 that Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired Château Brane-Mouton at auction. Located in the heart of the Médoc, in the appellation of Pauillac, the estate was renamed Château Mouton Rothschild. In 1924, Baron Philippe de Rothschild took over the reins of the property. A visionary, he decided to initiate bottling directly at the estate and also designed a label for the wine. In 1973 Château Mouton Rothschild became a First Classified Growth. An icon of the Pauillac appellation, Château Mouton Rothschild has produced magnificent Bordeaux wines, known by wine lovers around the world.

The vineyard

Located north-west of Bordeaux, in the Medoc, the Château Mouton Rothschild vineyard covers 90 hectares. The vines are planted in stony, gravelly soils that capture the heat and restore it during the night, thus helping the grapes ripen. These poor, well-drained soils are lain over clay-gravelly subsoils, lending the wines of Château Mouton Rothschild a certain power, elegance and a tannic structure.

The vintage

A very mild winter and early spring favoured an early budding of the vines. The snowfall at the end of March did not impact the vineyards. Marked by temperatures above seasonal norms, the spring was also punctuated by abundant precipitation, especially at the beginning of May. From mid-May, hot and dry conditions significantly accelerated the vegetative cycle, with flowering taking place 12 days ahead of its usual date. While the month of June was characterised by great weather contrasts, the month of July was marked by heat waves and severe drought. The few rainy days in August activated veraison and resulted in a uniform development of the berries. Historically early, the 2020 harvest yielded fully ripe grapes in perfect sanitary condition. Despite lower yields than in recent vintages, the quality was exceptional, producing fresh, balanced and dense wines with powerful tannins and a beautiful finesse.

The blend

The Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild 2020 was made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (24%) and Cabernet Franc (4%).

The tasting

Colour

The colour is deep red with carmine reflections.

Nose

The complex nose combines fragrances of morello cherry and peony with notes of nutmeg.

Palate

With a good amplitude, the attack is quite generous. Over the course of the tasting, the palate seduces with its harmonious balance, its precise and structured tannins, and with its intense aromas of ripe black fruits. The delicious finish reveals a rare persistence of subtle chocolate nuances.