Appellations

La Mondotte 2011

St Emilion, Grand Cru

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Tasting Notes

This tiny yet special terroir owned by Stefan von Neipperg has turned out a sumptuous, opulent, gorgeously proportioned St.-Emilion that is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The color is a dense purple and the bouquet offers up scents of mulberries, sweet black cherries, licorice, incense and a touch of minerality. Broad, concentrated and rich, this full-bodied wine will benefit from several years of bottle age and drink well for 20 years.

Score: 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2034 Date: 01 April 2014

This nearly 12-acre vineyard on the high plateau of limestone and clay soils above Pavie and Pavie Decesse has produced a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc in 2011. The result is an opaque purple-colored wine with sweet mulberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with forest floor, toasty new oak and spring flowers. Full-bodied with sweet tannin, adequate acidity and a lavish, almost extravagantly rich style, this is one of Bordeaux’s most compelling wines. The 2011 La Mondotte is another great success in a difficult vintage. Drink it over the next two decades. Proprietor Stefan von Neipperg’s debut vintage of 1996 continues to age at a glacial pace. In many ways this great terroir established not only Neipperg’s seriousness about quality, but also the burgeoning reputation of Stephane Derenoncourt as a wine consultant. Yields in 2011 were 18 hectoliters per hectare, the wine was aged in 100% new oak, and the natural alcohol achieved was 14%.

Score: 92 - 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2032 Date: 30 April 2012

Picked on 21st September (Merlot) and 26th September (Cabernet Franc) at a whopping 18hl/ha, the La Mondotte has a sweet pure nose of dark cherries and cassis, of course, saturated with creamy new oak although it is in synch with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet ripe tannins on the entry. Low acidity, plush and sensual, it does not have the complexity of say the 2005 or 2009, although it is svelte and focused, a pretty La Mondotte to age over 10-15 years. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 30 April 2012

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 100% new oak. Amazingly deep colour like all the wines from the von Neipperg stable. Smoky dark and dense. Lovely purity. Juicy fresh acidity and a lovely rounded texture. Moderate length and quite gentle but plenty in the middle. Pure and light-handed extraction but there's lots of ripe tannin hiding underneath. Stephan von Neipperg says, 'Il joue son cinéma' - ie the softness is deceptive. (JH)

Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2026 Date: 24 April 2012

Dense, long and powerful though a little more understated this year. Finely crafted tannins.

Score: 17 - 18 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2020-2030 Date: 16 April 2012

This vivid red shows excellent definition to its linzer torte, black currant and juicy plum flavors, with lots of chalk and iron-driven cut on the finish. Ripe, sleek and focused. A step ahead of the pack.

Score: 92 - 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 11 April 2012

This is really long and beautiful. Very impressive. Lovely aromas of flowers, berries and chocolate. Full and dense, yet refined and subtle. Wonderful length. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 01 April 2012