2014 Chateau Troplong Mondot Grand Cru, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux

The 2014 Troplong Mondot is super-impressive. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, chocolate and dark spice notes meld together in this stunningly beautiful, opulent Saint-Émilion. Large-scale, ample and totally flamboyant in style, the 2014 is going to need time to fully come together, but it is striking even today. The blend is 90 % Merlot, 8 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 2 % Cabernet Franc.

96 points  Antonio Galloni vinous.com

Troplong Mondot is one of its most beautiful representatives of the very old tradition of wine growing in Saint-Émilion. 
At the beginning of the XVIIIth century, the Mondot estate belonged to one of the most prestigious aristocratic families in Gironde: the de Sèze family. They became famous by defending Louis XVI before the Constitution. 

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".

Château Troplong Mondot .

Château Troplong Mondot is grown on extensive vineyards 

rich in limestone clay soils.

Powerful, well-structured with pronounced complex tannins, 

its deep aromas of truffles and blackberries develop over time.

- Vinification method -

Hand harvested. Total destemming.

Alcoholic fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.

Malotactic fermentation in oak barrels.

Matured in oak barrels of which 75% are new oak and 25% are one-year old, for 12 to 24 months depending on the vintage.

Blending at maturity produces Troplong Mondot.

Natural egg whites are used for fining, if required.

- Average production -

60,000 to 90,000 bottles Troplong Mondot

2014 Troplong Mondote comprises of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It has a deep in color. The wine is round, concentrated and loaded with dark chocolate covered cherries and plums, smoke, licorice and truffle. With depth of flavor, intensity and richness, this is a full bodied effort that will reward a decade in the cellar, before everything really comes together here.

94 points - Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate

The 2014 Troplong-Mondot performed to my expectation now that the wine is in bottle. It has a refined bouquet with black cherries, raspberry preserve and mineral scents that gain intensity in the glass, but never get carried away. 

The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, tensile in the mouth but surprisingly linear and conservative, at least in the first half. It is fresh and precise, then delivers the weight and concentration as it fans out on the finish, a residue of white pepper tingling on the aftertaste. 

This is a delicious Troplong Mondot that should age with style and grace.

Drink 2020-2040.

Tasted April 2017.

95 points - James Suckling

The dark, savory, earthy and plum aromas plus the serious tannins here give this wine a lot of character, but it really needs a couple of years to open up. The finish packs a big tannic punch. For the long term. Try in 2024.