Château Troplong-Mondot 2018

Guide vert 2022 Un boisé fumé domine encore le nez, mais une pointe mentholée dans le détail du fruit vient complexifier l'ensemble donnant plus d'éloquence aux calcaires du plateau.

"On attendait de voir ce que ce cru vendangé très tôt allait donner… Et l’on a vu… En effet, on ne peut qu’être séduit par le nez profond très salivant. Le toucher de bouche de cachemire précède un grain crayeux surfin qui étire parfaitement le tannin qui porte le vin jusqu’à une envolée florale et fraîche. Incontestablement le plus grand troplong de l’histoire du XXIe siècle."

"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."

"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."

"Deeper colored, the 2018 Troplong Mondot is a blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc brought up in 60% new French oak. Its vivid purple color is followed by a beautiful perfume of black raspberries, cassis, crushed flowers, and beautiful earthy minerality. Medium to full-bodied, ultra-pure, balanced on the palate, it has a beautiful chalky minerality on the finish. While the style has changed dramatically with the arrival of Aymeric de Gironde, the quality is nevertheless world-class."

"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 the second wine this year. The château will probably ask for some sections to be included in the grand vin in the next classification in 2022. 3.56pH. Thomas Duclos consults."

"Tasted blind. Weaker crimson than most. Sweet and bloody on the palate – one of the wines that most resembles the pre-Rolland (winemaker) St-Émilions. Not exaggerated and offering lots of sweet fruit. Good balance and length."

"Barrel Sample. 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 Troplong Mondot was picked from 7 September until 10 October with 60% of the Merlot harvest completed in one week, then a long process to obtain full maturity. It has a gorgeous bouquet with black cherries, cassis, marmalade and orange pith. With time it reveals a strong shucked oyster shell tang. It is very different to the 2017 but shows much more fruit intensity and harmony. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins. There is more body and mass compared to the 2017, fine grip with blackberry, black pepper, sea salt and a tang of Indian spice. It is an excellent Troplong Mondot that will give 20 to 30 years of drinking pleasure."