© 2003-2011 I.Litwar

 

Troplong Mondot has contributed with wines of immensely fine quality since 1988 vintage. One of the most kind, hospitable and gentle proprietors in Bordeaux, Christine Valette, is responsible for Troplong Mondot's uprocketing quality.

This property and its vineyard are majestically situated on a small hilltop just outside Saint-Émilion town, reachable by few minutes in the car and app. 15-20 minutes of walk from the town's centre. You can't miss it, because of the water tower and very adequate signposting.

Troplong Mondot covers around 33 ha on soil with deep clay surface and limestones in the subsoil, planted with 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Franc, vines are on average 35 years old and wine matures in 75% new barrels for a period between 12 and 24 months.

 

 

We are attending the site (lieu-dit) of Mondot "village"

 

There is a water tower close to Troplong Mondot

 

Troplong Mondot is majestically placed on high plateau - one of the most beautiful sights in Saint-Émilion

 

 

Troplong Mondot 2010 (barrel sample) 95p

Tasted twice during April 2011. Consistent notes. Similar to 2009 but fruit and tannin here are even sweeter and there's more intensity on the nose and palate. Stunning wine.

Troplong Mondot 2009 (barrel sample) 93-94p

Tasted three times - last time in April 2011. Consistent notes. Powerful and strong wine with lot of oak and tannin, sweet fruit and fat tannin, very long finish. Excellent stuff.

Troplong Mondot 2008 (barrel sample) 95p

Tasted twice - last time in October 2009. Not consistent notes. In April 2009 it was strong and concentrated, but also very oaky and therefore very difficult to assess.Much better half year later - reminds alot of 2006 version but has better ripeness of fruit.

Troplong Mondot 2007 92p

Tasted four times - last time in April 2011. Consistent notes. This wine was aromatic, round, showing silky fruit and silky tannins and finishing soft and tasty. Very seductive wine with delightful balance.

Troplong Mondot 2006 94p

Tasted five times - last time in April 2011. Consistent notes. Powerful wine with strong backbone, concentrated, meaty, black cherries and spicy black fruit, long aftertaste. Stupendous effort.

Troplong Mondot 2005 98-99p

Tasted four times -  last time in April 2008. Consistent notes. I simply don’t remember having tasted so complete and amazing wine from this property ever. Christine Valette has every reason to clap her hands! – her 2005 has powerful aroma of dark berries, cocoa and chocolate powder, is multidimensional, incredibly well balanced and with rock-solid structure. Long lasting and sensational wine. Wow!

Troplong Mondot 2004 (barrel sample) 91p

Tasted in April 2005. The proprietor, Christine Valette, delivered once again a wine, which reflected her personality. Kind and strong at the same time. It was packed with ripe, aromatic and tasty berries. Stupendous wine.

Troplong Mondot 2003 94p

This wine was clearly underperforming from the barrel in April 2004, but it showed dramatic improvement, when tasted in April 2006. Deep red, strong, tight with spicy blackcurrants and raspberries, fine balance and depth. Fresh attitude without any sign of overmatured grapes and dry tannin. Great vintage for the property.

Troplong Mondot 2002 90p

 Tasted twice - last time in Augustl 2011. Consistent notes. Medium red. Seemed quite closed at the time of tasting, but you could feel there was a potential. Give it time to develop and it will be full of charm, roundness and tasty flavors.

Troplong Mondot 2001 95p

Tasted in April 2006. Black red. Incredibly aromatic with raspberries and cherries. Refined with pure elegance and finesse. Stunning sweetness of the fruit. This is stunning vintage for the property.

Troplong Mondot 2000 97p

Tasted twice - last time in November 2011. Consistent notes. Very voluminous nose and palate - blackcurrants, blackberries, blueberries and black cherries. Great sweetness of the fruit and perfect balance. Sophisticated and elegant, but at the same time strong, powerful and well-structured. In November 2011 it was very, very oaky, iron strong structure, deep, immensely concentrated (black-/blueberry fruit) and long. Many, many years ahead. Great bottle. Rated 96p. 

 Troplong Mondot 1998 93p

Tasted in October 2006. Dark red. Strong and elegant at the same time with fine aroma and taste of dark berries and cherries. Full-bodied, harmonious and very seductive wine. Fabulous quality. Magnum of same wine tasted in August 2011 - same rating as for normal size bottle.

Troplong Mondot 1990 99p

Tasted three times - last time in April 2005. Consistent notes. This wine was an extraordinary example of perfect, careful and intelligent winemaking! Very strong and powerful with incredible concentration, stunning depth and balance. Extremely long on the palate with long lasting aftertaste. Simply a killer wine, which still is extremely youthful at 15 years of age. I'm sure it can last for another 20-25 years.

 

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