Château Mouton Rothschild stands as one of the most celebrated names in fine wine. Its Grand Vin has achieved multiple 100-point scores over the years from critics like Robert Parker, Jeb Dunnuck and James Suckling among others, consistently ranking among the most collectible and iconic wines on the planet. But in recent years, a quiet transformation has taken place within the estate—one that has turned heads, challenged assumptions, and delivered what may be one of the most compelling second wines in all of Bordeaux.
Enter the 2022 Le Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild Pauillac—a wine that no longer lives in the shadow of its older sibling. In fact, in this vintage, ‘Petit’ means something much bigger.
Petit in Name, Grand in Execution
In the world of luxury from haute couture to gastronomy, the word “petit” carries a distinct kind of reverence. It implies not “lesser,” but in fact smaller in scale, greater in focus, and elevated in craftsmanship. Think petit fours, petite couture, or artisan objects made in limited quantities with obsessive detail.
Le Petit Mouton follows this tradition. It is not a byproduct; it is a curated expression. A meticulous, terroir-driven wine crafted with the same standards and techniques used to create the Grand Vin. In the 2022 vintage, this second label emerges not just as a promising younger sibling, but as a wine that rivals and in some respects surpasses earlier vintages of the Grand Vin in finesse, tension, and approachability.
‘Fun facts’, the wine is actually named after the late Baroness Philippine’s residence in the heart of the estate and the label is an alternative design by the artist for the original 1924 Mouton Rothschild label, Jean Carlu.
Unlike many second wines made from satellite plots or declassified fruit, Le Petit Mouton is produced entirely from the same contiguous, gravel-rich vineyard holdings that yield Mouton Rothschild itself. The vines, once too young for the Grand Vin, are now mature, 20 to 30 years old and farmed with the same painstaking care.
The estate embraces sustainable and organic viticulture, including manual tilling, no herbicides, and biodiversity initiatives to enhance soil health and long-term resilience. Every step is intentional: from green harvesting to leaf thinning, to promote optimal ripening and phenolic balance.
In the hot and dry 2022 vintage, Mouton’s terroir combined with this intensive farming approach allowed for extraordinary fruit quality: ripe yet balanced, powerful yet pure. | | | Winemaking with First Growth Precision
The 2022 blend, 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot is vinified using parcel-by-parcel sorting, double manual selection, and fermentation in thermoregulated oak and stainless-steel vats to retain freshness and structure. The wine is then aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels, crafted in Mouton’s own cooperage to ensure perfect integration.
This level of attention typically reserved for First Growth bottlings is precisely why Le Petit Mouton has outgrown its title as simply a “second wine.” It is a case study in precision, energy, and purity.
The 2022 Le Petit Mouton Rothschild delivers a thrilling aromatic range: cassis, graphite, dark plum, cedar, and violet, all wrapped in notes of mocha, crushed rock, and toasted spice. On the palate, it is silky yet structured, vibrant yet layered, with tension that carries the fruit through a long, mineral finish.
Despite the warmth of the vintage, the wine feels alive and finely tuned, with polished tannins and freshness that will allow it to age gracefully for decades.
What the Critics Say, this wine is pulling scores the same or better than many a Mouton from the past 20 years!
96 Points! A really flamboyant wine beginning with lots of berries, plums, asphalt and orange peel before turning to blue fruits. Full-bodied and medium round tannins give a softness and drinkability. Long finish. Give it three to four years to come together but already gorgeous. Hard not to drink now. - James Suckling
96 Points! Up there with the top second wines in the vintage, the deep purple-hued 2022 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild offers up textbook Pauillac (and Mouton) notes of ripe black fruits, spicy wood, crushed stone, and graphite, with a terrific floral character with air. It's medium to full-bodied, pure, layered, and flawlessly balanced. Drink bottles over the coming two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck
95 Points! Flowers, cherry pipe-tobacco, black raspberry, spearmint, black cassis, and plums open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is lush, fresh, sweet, spicy, pure, and rich, with a vibrant, long deep, black and blue fruit and tobacco packed finish. This is Jr. Mouton Rothschild! The wine blends 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.14.2% ABV, 3.86 pH. Drink from 2024-2045. - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
Mouton Rothschild’s Grand Vin remains a benchmark for Bordeaux, its name etched in the pantheon of wine royalty. But Le Petit Mouton, especially in 2022, is no longer content to play a supporting role.
It’s a wine born of the same soil, sculpted by the same hands, and infused with the same spirit of innovation and excellence. It represents everything the word “petit” stands for in the world of luxury: care, curation, and artisanal refinement.
The 2022 vintage is one for the ages. Don’t let the name fool you, this wine is anything but small.
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