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.
One of the stories of the 2018 vintage in Bordeaux was Troplong Mondot bringing in its first grapes on 7 September. Proof, many suggested, of director Aymeric de Gironde going too far in his quest to rewrite Troplong's powerful style. It certainly made me excited to try this wine, and I hope the sceptics were too, because this is a brilliant Troplong. Oh, and although around 80% of the grapes did come in during those first 10 days, the final harvest date was 10 October. There's clear depth just in the colour alone, and impressive complexity on the nose. There's still a whole lot of Troplong strength and concentration here, you can't get away from that with these clay and flint over limestone soils, but now it is softer, with more minerality. The relatively high alcohols are apparent in the texture but not as heat. I love the persistency here, as it drags things out in the most delicious of ways, with a slate and white pepper finish. Of the new vineyards bought (4ha from Clos Labarde and 6ha from Bellisle Mondotte), everything is in Troplong Mondot this year. The officials will probably ask for some sections to be included in Troplong in the next classification in 2022. 3.56pH. Thomas Duclos consults.
The 2018 Troplong Mondot will take readers who haven't tasted these wines in a few years aback. Stunning in its aromatic presence, the 2018 is silky, medium-in body and super-refined. Once again, I am blown away by the wine's total sense of precision. The Cabernets are only 15% of the blend, and yet the 2018 is so strongly marked by floral and savory accents. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, rose petal and lavender all build in the glass. The 2018 is regal, refined and absolutely exquisite.
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.
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 tannin's, 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.
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.
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.
Technical Details
Blend85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Franc
CountryFrance
RegionBordeaux
AppellationSaint-Emilion
Alcohol15%
Shop All Wines Chateau Troplong Mondot Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018
Chateau Troplong Mondot Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018
Proprietary Blends | France
JS98, DC97, VN97, WE95-97, JD96, WA96, WS94
$190.00
$104.95 | 750mL
44% off retail!
“Once again, I am blown away by the wine's total sense of precision.” - Antonio Galloni
We see no lies there. This 98-point (plus two 97s, a 96, and more!) stunner of Saint-Emilion is the real deal – cementing the notion that this historic estate is not only back – it’s better than ever. We were thrilled to get the opportunity to take every last bottle we could from our connection in Bordeaux, and at a price like this...it’s sure to fly!
Chateau Troplong Mondot has a long and colorful history in Saint-Emilion that dates back to the 18th century. In those days, what we know as Troplong Mondot was the property of Abbe Raymond de Seze. It was de Seze who created the beautiful chateau that remains at Troplong Mondot today. When the chateau was constructed in 1745, the de Seze family was already established in the Bordeaux wine community.
A few years back, the estate came under the guidance of Aymeric de Gironde who turned heads (and not necessarily in a good way) with some of his choices. Chief amongst those was the decision to pick the majority of the fruit nearly a month earlier than typical – exemplified by this vintage in which 80% of the grapes were harvested during the first couple weeks of September. His peers considered this proof that he had gone too far in his quest to bring elegance to the traditionally powerful intensity of Troplong Mondot. Then the wine soared at Bordeaux’s En Primeur release. Critical praise followed. All of the elegance sought by Aymeric, with the historic power of the estate there as well. Then he did it again in 2019 and 2020 (both of which scored 100 points from various critics). It seems as though the future of Troplong Mondot is secured and in quite capable hands.
The blend here is 85% merlot, 13% cabernet sauvignon, and 2% cabernet franc. Despite that mix, the cabernet notes are prominent – with deep blackberry, blueberry, and cherry notes, and plenty of floral aromas that range from violets to lilac, and dried lavender. The merlot offers up plum and currants to the mix, and the harmony and complexity here are immediately noticeable. Further expressions of star anise, iron ore, graphite, and black trumpet mushrooms punctuate this long and layered wine, with a tight finish that speaks to the wine’s potential for greatness over the coming decades.
A treat – from start to finish – and something worthy of any Bordeaux enthusiast. Lovers of rich, complex, and powerful wines should take note. Troplong Mondot is an already legendary house that is now rising to ever further heights!
About the Producer
Premier Grand Cru Classe in Saint-Emilion, Chateau Troplong Mondot stands out with refinement, boasting a strong wine identity, a perfectly-controlled vineyard and an innate sense of welcoming. Located on the highest point of Saint-Emilion's famous limestone plateau, the 43-hectare estate held in one piece stands on some of the most enviable and unique terroirs of the Right Bank, with ideal geological conditions and exposure, The unique diversity of the soils is revealed through balanced wines combining strength and elegance, complexity and precision. Troplong Mondot's history has been enriched with charismatic and cultured figures who have led the estate towards excellence with a different vision. By trusting Aymeric de Gironde for the executive management, the company SCOR bring a fresh boost since 2017 while respecting the values and spirit of the estate.
