18 RENÈ GABRIEL´S BX TOTAL: "Breites, marmeladiges, leicht alkoholisches Bouquet, Schokolade, Rosinen, Minze, Tabak, Zwetschgenschalen. Üppiger, fetter, breiter Gaumen mit opulenter Frucht, viel trockenem Tannin, süsser, voller Aromatik, langer, breiter Abgang. 18/20 2019 - 2032"
94 WINESPECTATOR: "Ripe and dense, but very vibrant and energetic, as a torrent of cassis, blackberry coulis and fig paste rushes through, framed by enticing black licorice and evenly roasted alder and juniper notes. The long finish has lots of grip and acidity, but they work together and are deeply embedded. Captures the fruit and structure of the vintage superbly. Best from 2015 through 2030. –JM"
95-96 JAMES SUCKLING: "What a nose. Gorgeous aromas of minerals, flowers and dark berries. Stunning. Full bodied, with a solid core of fruit and racy tannins. Citrusy finish too. Loving this."
95 ANTONIO GALLONI: "Deep ruby. Knockout nose combines sexy black raspberry, smoky earth tones, dark chocolate and spices. Lush, dense, sweet and complete, with black fruit, cocoa powder and mineral flavors offering both full ripeness and a cool restraint. Really insinuating depth of flavor here. Finishes with powerful echoing black fruits and great focus and length, with substantial but ripe and perfectly integrated tannins. A great example of a late-ripening terroir in a long growing season without extreme heat."
98 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deep dark in color, pungent aromas of licorice, black cherry, boysenberry, cocoa, truffle, spice create the intoxicating perfume. The powerful, rich concentrated wine is sweet, lush, opulent and utterly, mouth filling. With about 4 hours of decanting, the wine fleshed out, softened and offered a decadent, memorable tasting experience. This is truly a wine for hedonists and pleasure seekers!"
99 THE WINEADVOCATE: "Inky, bluish/black/purple, with notes of spring flowers, licorice, camphor, graphite, and a boatload of blueberry, black raspberry and blackberry fruit, this is a powerful, full-bodied Troplong Mondot. All the building components of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol are judiciously and impressively integrated. It is a blend of 90% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc made by Christine Valette and her husband Xavier Pariente with the consultancy help of Michel Rolland. I-m not sure what the heady alcohol level is in Troplong Mondot in 2010 (it certainly must be in the 15%+ range), but it is well-concealed behind the extravagant, richness, full-bodied power, and pure nobility of this majestic wine. Forget this for 5-7 years and drink it over the following three decades. An absolutely stunning wine from this estate, which seems to be on a mission to produce exquisite world-class wines with enormous aging potential, the 2010 is showing better from bottle than it even did from barrel."
