This is a very powerful Petit Mouton with so much rich fruit and power. Full-bodied, tannic yet polished and long. Muscular for the second wine of Mouton..April/2017

In the running for the best second wine, the 2016 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton stands firmly on its own two feet and offers beautiful, classic Pauillac notes of crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, and lead pencil shavings. Surpassing most grand vins, this rich, flamboyant effort is full-bodied and mouthfilling, with good acidity and thrilling amounts of fruit. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, brought up in 50% new French oak, it's going to keep for 2-3 decades.

This is full of the signature Petit Mouton sexiness, with soft grilled coffee bean edges to the aromatics and a touch of glamour, totally delicious. The fine tannins are soft and full of beauty, just chewy enough to pull you in and make you want to stick around. The structure builds through the palate and the final impression is of a big wine majoring on fully ripe fruit. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc..April/2017

The 2016 Le Petit Mouton is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep garnet-purple color and gives up an intensely plummy nose with cigar box and fallen leaves scents leading to aroma layers of kirsch, red and black currants and tilled soil. Medium-bodied with a racy line of freshness cutting through the muscular fruit and a good, firm frame of grainy tannins to support, it finishes on a lingering menthol note.

The gently steeped plum and red currant fruit allows light anise, iron and cedar notes to enter slowly before taking hold on the slightly taut, savory-tinged finish. The iron element lingers longest in the end, giving this a sense of refinement. Best from 2022 through 2035.

The 2016 Le Petit-Mouton is exceptional. In another era in Bordeaux’s history, it could undoubtedly have been a Grand Vin -- it is every bit that outstanding. The volume, depth and density here are truly remarkable. Sweet spice and floral notes develop on the finish, but it is the wine’s sense of balance and poise that is most remarkable. Le Petit-Mouton is also without question one of the two or three best second wines of the vintage. Don’t miss it..Antonio Galloni, April/2017