The 2005 Le Petit Mouton has a very expressive, vivacious bouquet with dark cherries, tobacco and even a hint of violet plucked from Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a little more structure than the 2010, supremely well detailed, but perhaps just missing the sustain of that aforementioned younger vintage. Still, this an extremely fine Le Petit Mouton drinking now and over the next 15-20 years. Tasted August 2016. - Neal Martin

The Le Petit Mouton 2005 has a ripe, quite intense bouquet: raspberry coulis, sage, cloves and a touch of undergrowth. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, nicely balanced with a mulberry and red plum finish that is delightful, even if it does not quite have the precision or sophistication of more recent vintages. This is drinking beautifully now but it will continue to cruise for another decade.