CHATEAU TROPLONG MONDOT 1er Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Emilion 2021 Bottle

Description

Château Troplong Mondot is a St. Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé property that has in the last decade been producing wines that are the equal of many 1er Grand Cru Classé estates. Its handsome château dates back to 1745 and Troplong-Mondot was originally part of one sizeable domaine which included the vineyards of Château Pavie. It became autonomous in 1850 when it was acquired by Raymond Troplong. Later on, it was bought by Alexandre Valette and today it is owned and run by his great-granddaughter, Christine and her husband Xavier Pariente.

Troplong Mondot has 30 hectares of vineyards well-sited alongside the hill of Mondot to the north-east of the St-Emilion appellation. The soils are rich in limestone clay and are planted with Merlot (90%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The grapes are hand-harvested and then fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged in oak barriques (75% new) for 18 months. It is bottled unfiltered.

Guru oenologist Michel Rolland has been a consultant at Troplong Mondot since the mid 1980s.

THE WINE ADVOCATE Rating (93 - 96)
Reviewed by William Kelley
Issue Date 29th Apr 2022
Source Issue 260 End of April 2022, The Wine Advocate
"The 2021 Troplong Mondot shows considerable promise, exhibiting aromas of plums and wild berries mingled with notions of sweet spices, rose petals, vine smoke and raw cocoa, followed by a medium to full-bodied, seamless palate endowed with impressive intensity and texture. Built around beautifully refined, powdery tannins and lively acids, it concludes with a long, mouthwateringly saline finish. Macerations here were long but gentle, including a long cold soak before fermentation, and the blend, after much deliberation, is 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. Tasted four times."

JAMES SUCKLING Score 95-96
"Lovely density here with a solid center-palate of fruit and fine tannins. Medium body. Underlying salinity and oyster-shell character in the finish. Well defined. Grows at the end."

DECANTER Score 91
Tasted by Georgina Hindle (at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 2022)
"Bright pink rim to the wine, lovely and vibrant. Fragrant and fresh red and black cherry notes on the nose, peonies and violets. High acidity, super tangy and sour on the palate, a real burst of juicy fruits with a softly-spiced mid palate and chalky finish. A little high-toned to begin with but there are layers here of flavour and texture. Tannins are so fine and silky, so pure, the fruit is to the fore completely with the acidity giving a buzz on the tongue with the terroir markers giving a soft creamy, chalky finish that's also full of cooling mint touches. Approachable and easy to like. Ageing in 60% one year barrel, 40% tank.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2035."

JANCIS ROBINSON Score 16
Drink 2025 - 2032
47 hl/ha. Cask sample.
"Lifted and zesty with lively, crunchy fruit and red-berry fragrance. Chalky freshness as well. Adequate fruit to manage the tannins. Refreshing saline finish. Drinks relatively early."