Tasting Notes
JancisRobinson.com 17
Tasted blind. First bottle: Savoury yeast-extract nose. A little awkward and sinewy on the palate. Lots of greenness on the end. Actually very hard work. Second bottle: Still rather an indistinct nose. Then some fruit and pace on the palate, though very drying finish overall. But the juice and freshness saves it.
Anticipated maturity: 2026-2043
Vinous 93
The 2016 Le Petit-Mouton has a classic blackberry, graphite and smoke bouquet that perhaps feels a little stricter than it did out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very pure black fruit and a precise, quite minerally finish that is pure class. This might be the best Le Petit Mouton since it debuted in 1993.
Anticipated maturity: 2022-2040
Robert Parker 93
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.
Anticipated maturity: 2021-2041