Chateau Troplong Mondot 2006

Jane Anson: "Broad-shouldered, well constructed, powerful concentrtation of blackberry pastilles and liqourice root. There is a purity to the fruit expression on the attack, followed quickly by a mid palate shot of melted bitter black chocolate, tar, and tannins that coat your tongue. Come back to this in another decade. Promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé in this year's 2006 ranking. 100% new oak, Michel Rolland consultant."

Wine Enthusiast: "A wine that succeeds in combining great depth of flavor and structure with an impressive array of flavors. On top of the tannins is juicy black fruit, cocoa, a welter of spice and ripeness. The acidity and new wood put the wine into a more modern style. Wait for at least 5–7 years."

The Wine Advocate: "Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 2006 Troplong-Mondot is deep in color with minimal ageing on the rim. The bouquet is rich and generous with mulberry, Hoi Sin, orange blossom and melted tar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, generous black pepper and graphite notes cutting through the dense black fruit, leading to an engaging, tensile, graphite and tobacco-driven finish that exerts both body and length. It still has that slight stockiness, but that is something I like. I have always found much to admire in this vintage of Troplong-Mondot and it continues to give so much pleasure. Tasted December 2016."

Jeb Dunnuck: "A number of 2006 Bordeaux are showing well today, and that is certainly the case with the 2006 Troplong Mondot. Taking about an hour of air to show at its best, its ruby/plum hue gives way to a classic Saint-Emilion offering ample red and black currant fruits, tobacco leaf, bouquet garni, chocolate, and loads of chalky minerality. Rich, full-bodied, and beautifully textured, this powerful 2006 has surprising structure yet more than enough fruit. Mature, but certainly on the early slopes of its drinking plateau, it’s going to evolve gracefully for another two decades or more."

Lisa Perrotti-Brown: "The 2006 Troplong Mondot has a deep garnet color, with a touch of brick. It gives up forthcoming notes of baked plums, stewed cherries, and dried mulberries, with an undercurrent of menthol, crushed rocks, and new leather, plus a hint of iron ore. The medium-bodied palate has a solid structure of firm, chewy tannins and bags of freshness supporting the fragrant fruit, finishing long and earthy."

The Wine Cellar Insider: "Showing maturity in the color, the wine offers secondary aromatics of truffle, black cherry, smoke and licorice with just a hint of cocoa in the endnote. Full bodied, concentrated, round and starting to open, you can drink this now, or age it for several more years. This is one of the few 2006 Bordeaux wines that does not display the strict tannins found so often in this vintage."

Weinwisser: "Sattes, sehr dunkles Purpur mit violettem Schimmer. Wuchtiges Kirschenbouquet, Maulbeeren, Kokos-Bounty, Cassis, berauschend süss. Im Gaumen wiederum süss, sexy, viel Fett um die doch massiven Tannine, im Innern Amarenakirschen, schwarze Schokolade, ein gewaltiger Kraftakt, der zum Potenzial auch noch die dramatischen, grün endenden Gerbstoffe verdauen muss. Potenzial höher als eigentliche Klasse."

Wine Spectator: "Coffee, cedar, blackberry and tobacco aromas follow through to a tight, powerful palate. This is full yet very reserved, with silky, polished tannins."