Chateau Troplong Mondot 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is a very linear red and layered at the same time, showing blackberry, blueberry, black-truffle, bark and stone character. Chalk and minerality, too. It’s full-bodied and well framed with gorgeous intensity and freshness. Muscular with wonderful structure and brightness. Salty and savory notes on the finish. Try after 2024."

WEINWISSER: "Purpur mit zartem rubinrotem Rand. Delikates Bouquet mit Wildkirsche und roter Pflaume, dahinter ein voller Strauss Veilchen, herrliche Terroirwürze und Milchschokonoten. Am komplexen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur und unglaublicher Finesse, fein salzigem Extrakt und perfekt modelliertem Körper. Im gebündelten nicht enden wollenden Finale ein Korb mit roten Kirschen, dunkles Graphit und schwarze Oliven. Eine magische Macht hält diesen St.-Émilion in Balance (trotz 15 %-vol.) – hat im Vergleich zu den Primeurs nochmals zugelegt, daher 19+!"

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2018 Troplong Mondot is deep garnet-colored. It hops playfully from the glass with notes of juicy plums, fresh blueberries, and kirsch, leading to hints of cinnamon stick, allspice, and lilacs. Full-bodied, vivacious, and refreshing, the palate delivers plush tannins and bags of bright fruit, finishing with great length and a real skip in its step."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Concentrated, full-bodied, deep and opulently textured, there is a beautiful sense of elegance and balance here. There is richness, power but also symmetry. The purity in the fruit, along with its freshness stand out as one of the keynotes of its character. This should age and evolve for 3 decades, and be drinking perfectly after a decade of aging. The wine was produced from a blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Troplong Mondot is blended of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, with 15% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, with considerable coaxing and swirling it slowly emerges from the glass like a waking giant, building to a towering bouquet of preserved plums, blueberry pie and Morello cherries with gentler wafts of violets, star anise, fruitcake and cast-iron pan. The concentrated, full-bodied palate possesses impressive purity and brightness of fruit commingled with richer, riper elements and supported by firm, velvety tannins, finishing with lovely freshness and on a lingering ferrous note. It's a wine that's not just delicious, it's seriously interesting too."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2018 Château Troplong Mondot showed beautifully. Based on 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it reveals a dense purple color as well as ripe beautiful aromatics of black cherries, red plums, graphite, espresso, Asian spices, and gravelly earth. Beautiful on the palate as well, it's medium to full-bodied and has a rounded, expansive texture, plenty of mid-palate depth, building tannins, and present yet integrated oak. This classic, impressive Troplong Mondot will need 5-7 years of bottle age but will evolve for 30 years or more."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The tannins are beautifully integrated into this velvet-textured wine. It has density and richness allied to concentration. At the same time, it has kept wonderful freshness and acidity to give it fine lift. The aging potential is obvious."

DECANTER: "This is a dense and profound wine, but it’s a little shy aromatically at present. The palate is juicy and well constituted with attractive volume, beautiful texture, silky tannins and an unreserved but unaggressive power behind. The finish is firm and persistent. Despite the alcohol, everything is balanced and contained. Aged in 60% new oak barrels. Drinking Window 2025 - 2040"

WINE SPECTATOR: "This shows the profile of the vintage, with a touch of plum pit and savory austerity along the edges of a core of red and black currant and cherry paste flavors. Late tugs of warm earth and tobacco on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2035."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Weaker crimson than most. Sweet and bloody on the palate – one of the wines that most resembles the pre-Rolland (winemaker) St-Émilions. Not exaggerated and offering lots of sweet fruit. Good balance and length."