2016 Ch Troplong Mondot 1er Cru Grand Classe, St Emilion

Aromas of tar, dark fruit and smoke. The palate is full-bodied with firm, polished, well-delineated tannins and dense, concentrated fruit. Still compact and youthful, it needs time, but I love the powerful balance in this wine. Drink from 2028. 10 Years On retrospective.

96 points Jacobo García Andrade for James Suckling

The 2016 Troplong Mondot is a world-class effort that is already beautifully evolved at the seven year mark. Once on the nose this takes on beautiful potpourri notes alongside damp salty soils, cigar ash and dense dark fruits. The palate is soft and refined with a seamless texture. While big and bold, the drinking experience makes this extremely elegant, as underlying freshness and firm tannins frame everything brilliantly. Beautiful red and dark fruits combine with freshly tilled soils on the palate. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next twenty years to come. 89% Merlot with 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc.

97 points Owen Bargreen

In 2016, the after-season not only saved the harvest, but also made it a lofty vintage by promoting perfect berry ripeness. This is a delicate wine that instantly releases both floral and fruity aromas. On the mid-palate, this 2016 expresses all its potential. It's energetic yet silky. There's velvet in this wine, and depth. The pleasure is immediate.

97 points Gault & Millau

The inky hue in the wine clearly matches up with the level of concentration in the ripe, dark berries. Add in liberal doses of black licorice, smoke, espresso, chocolate and boysenberry, and you have the core of the wine. Powerful, full, rich and with real depth of flavor, give this 10-12 years before popping a cork.

97 points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Rising above the limestone plateau of Saint Émilion, Château Troplong Mondot is one of Bordeaux's most celebrated Premier Grand Cru Classé estates. Dating back to the 18th century, the château occupies one of the highest points in the appellation, where its remarkable terroir of limestone and clay consistently produces wines of extraordinary concentration and finesse. Today, Troplong Mondot is admired for combining the richness of Saint Émilion with elegance, precision and exceptional ageing potential.

The magnificent 2016 vintage ranks among Bordeaux's greatest, delivering fruit of outstanding purity, freshness and balance. The estate's elevated vineyards produced Merlot and Cabernet Franc of exceptional intensity, while meticulous vineyard management and careful élevage have created a wine of remarkable harmony and structure. As it continues to mature, the wine is revealing the refinement and complexity that define this outstanding vintage.

Deep garnet with youthful ruby highlights, the bouquet is captivatingly layered with black cherry, plum and blackberry intertwined with violets, cedar and graphite. As the wine unfolds, notes of truffle, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate and crushed stone emerge, adding remarkable depth and unmistakable Saint Émilion character. The palate is powerful yet beautifully poised, combining concentrated dark fruits with velvety tannins, vibrant freshness and a finely etched limestone minerality. Long, seamless and effortlessly elegant, the finish lingers with savoury spice, floral perfume and exceptional persistence.

Magnificent with beef Wellington, roast duck, herb crusted lamb, venison loin or black truffle dishes. Already stunning with extended decanting, this exceptional Saint Émilion has the pedigree and balance to reward patient collectors for many decades.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2055.