2000 Chateau Troplong Mondot Grand Cru, Saint-Emilion

Extremely young with an unbelievable deep purple color, the 2000 Troplong Mondot has hardly budged since I tasted it in 2003. Two recent tastings confirmed that this is the greatest Troplong Mondot between their profound 1990 and more recent vintages such as 2005, 2008, and 2009. Copious chocolate, graphite, blackberry, blueberry, cassis, and ink characteristics are present in this full-bodied, powerful, massive St.-Emilion. While the tannins are noticeable, they are better integrated than they were seven years ago, and the fruit, extract, and richness clearly outweigh the wine’s structure. This 2000 will benefit from another 4-5 years of cellaring (longer than I originally predicted), and has at least two decades of drinkability ahead of it.

The count, Peer de France, who was also a member of the French Academy, brought his knowledge and experience to the property, and the wine of Mondot quickly became one of the most sought after in Saint-Émilion. In 1850, Raymond-Théodore Troplong acquired Mondot expending the vineyards and promoting the repitation of the Estate. After the death of Raymond the Estate was inherited by Eduard Troplong who, as was the trend at that time, added Mondot to his own name. Troplong Mondot was born! 

At the beginning of the XXth century, the Valette family bought the property shaped by its previous owners. Had he remembered, in 1868 it was established as one of the “Grands” of Saint-Émilion in Féret’s list? Or had he been charmed by the magic of this property and the beauty of the garden surrounding this large attractive home facing the village of Saint-Émilion? 

At the beginning of the 1980’s, Christine and Xavier Pariente improved the quality of their wines and its renown around the world. Xavier Pariente, in a close collaboration with winemaker Jean-Philippe Fort and Claude and Lydia Bourguignon, specialists in sustainable development in soils, conducted an ecological study of the parcellar cultural profile to restore the biodiversity of the soils. 

The vineyard has been restructured and today, a third of the property is cultivated and worked only with horses. For decades, no insecticide nor pesticide has been used. A sustainable, original and innovative cultural approach is set up. In 2010, Xavier Pariente created the first guest rooms on the property and, in 2012 a  successful restaurant. “Les Belles Perdrix de Troplong Mondot".