Troplong Mondot 2005

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé B

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Tasting Notes

The 2005 Troplong Mondot is a blend of 90% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. It was emotional tasting this wine, thinking of the late Christine Valette, who made this compelling wine while battling with considerable courage against an insidious disease. It is a great effort and a superstar of the vintage. Dense purple, it offers notes of white chocolate, blackberry, cassis and licorice as well as a hint of truffle and some subtle background oak. Full-bodied, multi-layered, and spectacularly pure and rich, it is a tour de force, and a great tribute to an incredible woman. Remarkably youthful, this wine probably needs another 4-8 years of bottle age, and should keep for 20 or more years. Kudos to the late Christine Valette!

Score: 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2043 01 June 2015

This estate was justifiably elevated to a Premier Grand Cru Classe in the new St.-Emilion classification thanks to the exceptional efforts of proprietress Christine Valette over the last two decades. The 2005 is one of the monumental wines of the vintage, and may eclipse their prodigious 1990. Inky/blue/purple-colored with an exceptional bouquet of Asian spices, blueberries, blackberries, truffles, cold steel, graphite, and charcoal, it hits the palate with exceptional purity, laser-like precision, a compellingly concentrated, multilayered mouthfeel, a broad, savory texture, terrific acidity, and substantial, but sweet tannins. It lives up to everything it revealed in barrel, and appears set to live for a half century or more. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2050.

Score: 99

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2018-2050 30 April 2008

A blockbuster effort from proprietress Christine Valette (who also deserves congratulations for Troplong Mondot’s ascent to a St.-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe, currently suspended pending litigation), this full-bodied, multi-tiered 2005 continues to confirm its extraordinary dimensions and quality. It is unquestionably the finest vintage for Troplong since 1990. A modern day legend, it exhibits a black/blue color as well as aromas and flavors of graphite, blueberries, black truffles, incense, and camphor. The sensational sweetness and layers of fruit are buttressed by high tannin, good acidity, and unbelievable precision and purity. This profoundly concentrated, full-bodied tour de force in winemaking is Madame Valette’s crowning achievement, and it will be talked about for decades to come. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040.

Score: 96 - 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2015-2040 30 April 2007

A blockbuster, extraordinarily profound effort from proprietor Christine Valette, the 2005 Troplong Mondot is the finest wine she has made since the other-worldly 1990. It dense black color is followed by a stupendous bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, truffles, graphite, and smoke. It cascades over the palate with exquisite density, purity, full-bodied power, and remarkable freshness as well as delineation. This magical wine somehow manages to harness extraordinary power and structure with a sense of delicacy and finesse. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025+.

Score: 96 - 100

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2006

Tasted single blind at Southwold. A ‘monster’ Troplong. The nose is tightly coiled with blackberry, black cherries, massive extraction with some raisin notes coming through. The palate is forceful, very tannic, powerful but with a touch of dryness. Robust tannins, some spicy Cabernet Franc here. It has the structure of a young Chateau Lafleur. This Saint Emilion packs a punch, but brutal at the moment. Drink 2025-2050. Tasted January 2009. (93+ Points)

Score: 93

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025-2050 01 July 2009

Full ruby-red. Spectacularly ripe nose offers plum jam, minerals, licorice, mocha and a whiff of game, all lifted by exotic flowers. Explosively ripe and sweet in the mouth, with uncanny fullness and depth to the flavors of raspberry, smoke and milk chocolate. A blockbuster of a wine with a three-dimensional texture and outstanding weight but with almost magically ripe acidity giving great precision to the flavors and drawing out the finish. Incredible melting tannins saturate the palate and front teeth. Wonderfully suave wine, the best I've ever tasted from this chateau.

Score: 96

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2008

Dark purple. Rather savoury and dense. Lots of voluptuous fruit and heady, tarry flavours with a strong liquorice element and pretty dry tannins but there is beguiling silky fruit in the middle. Someone here has run with the concept that this is an exceptional vintage and the wine deserves to be exceptional in style but it’s not a trial to taste or drink! Clean, brisk finish.

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2026 01 January 1900

Aromas of blackberry, toasted oak and vanilla. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. So velvety. Seductive

Score: 92 - 94

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 January 1900

80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A very pronounced nose of lush black fruit and roasted coffee beans. A massive wine this year with enormous depth and concentration of fruit and a structure to match. Unusualy for Troplong, this was rather difficult to taste but there is no doubting the quality and power this year. This may match the muscle of the remarkable 1989 and 1990 vintages.

Score: -

Albany Vintners, - 01 January 1900