Chateau Troplong Mondot 2009

Description

”General Info Chateau Troplong Mondot is a St. Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe property that has in the last decade been producing wines that are the equal of many 1er Grand Cru Classe estates. Its handsome chateau dates back to 1745 and Troplong-Mondot was originally part of one sizeable domaine which included the vineyards of Chateau Pavie. In the 17th century, the vineyard belonged to the Abbe Raymond de Seze, who built the chateau as it stands today in 1745. The Seze family was one of the most prestigious of the Bordeaux area’s landed gentry and owned many other estates. It was particularly illustrious in providing Louis XVI with his personal lawyer, Raymond de Seze. Under the aegis of the Abbe, Mondot won its place among the best Saint Emilion wines. In 1850, Raymond Troplong took over Mondot and turned it into the 33 hectares estate, unchanged to this very day. A peer, a famous jurist and a lover of art and literature, he became president of the Senate in 1852 and held this office until his death in 1869. In spite of his state duties, he operated the rich Mondot estate with remarkable success, producing a highly prized wine classed by the renowned Annuaire des Chateaux de Feret as Saint-Emilion’s second finest wine in 1868. Edouard Troplong, his nephew and successor, added the name Troplong to the estate before he sold it. The chateau entered the modern age with the Valette family. Alexandre Valette, a Parisian vintner, bought the estate crafted by Raymond Troplong. He already owned Chateau La France in Fronsac and would soon acquire Chateau Pavie. In 1980 Alexandres great grand daughter, Christine, took over the estate and was joined, 10 years later, by her husband, Xavier Pariente. Together they continued to improve and embellish the vineyard, cellar and chateau. This hard work and their efforts proved worthwhile when in 2006 Troplong Mondot was awarded 1er Grand Cru Classe status.Guru oenologist Michel Rolland has been a consultant at Troplong Mondot since the mid 1980s.Vintage The 2009 growing season was ideal in terms of weather conditions. Bud-break was late from March 23rd on. The flowering was then early, beginning on May 25th. Grape-colour change occurred from July 27th, which is a normal to early date compared with the last five years. In May, a hailstorm caused damage in some of the estates plots. Water deficit stress, which is very favourable to the vine since it stops the vine shooting and encourages the grapes to ripen and therefore concentrate, arrived after grape-colour change and increased during the month of August, during a summer that was very hot and dry but with cool nights. The months of September and October brought a magnificent hot and dry Indian summer.Vineyards Troplong Mondot has 30 hectares of vineyards well-sited alongside the hill of Mondot to the north-east of the St-Emilion appellation. The soils are rich in limestone clay and are planted with Merlot 90%, Cabernet Franc 5% and Cabernet Sauvignon 5%. Yields 41 hl/ha.Harvest The harvest took place from October 2nd to 10th for the Merlot and on October 20th for the two Cabernets, in fabulous weather. The skins were thick and rich in ripe phenolic compounds. The concentration in sugar and the phenolic richness are comparable, perhaps even superior, to the 2005 vintage. The crop was in perfect condition and health. All the necessary parts were in place to make a vintage of outstanding quality and elegance.Maturation Traditional winemaking methods are then used, before maturation in French oak barrels, of which 75% are new oak, for 12-24 months depending on the vintage. The wines are then blended at maturity before bottling. Natural egg whites may be used for fining if required.Tasting Notes Opaque at the core with small purple rim. Not simple at all, the bouquet shows deeply concentrated aromas of sweet earth and infused fruits, along with cocoa powder and vanilla. Balanced and restrained on the palate, the fruit shows ripeness, but avoids overly jammy or viscous texture thanks to well-integrated acidity. Finishes long and elegant, with spice and minerals infusing the fruit weight at the back palate. This wine has generated considerable controversy because of its alcohol levels. And while there is certainly some ripe fruit to be found here, this is not a flabby fruit bomb. Rather, the wine clearly shows its specific terroir, highlighting a taut, linear profile along with a distinct graphite mineral component that is unique to the Chateau. It will be interesting to watch this wine mature over the next 30 years The 2009 Troplong Mondot will provide plenty of competition for the 2010, 2005 and 2000. It comes closest in style to the prodigious 1990 that proprietress Christine Valette produced 22 years ago. A phenomenal effort, it unquestionably justifies its relatively new Premier Grand Cru St.-Emilion status. Readers should keep in mind that the 1990, which probably has lower acidity and not the level of concentration found in the 2009, is drinking incredibly well at age 22 and reveals no signs of falling apart.Reviews Very dark, with strong pastis-soaked blackberry and roasted plum notes leading the way, with layers of sweet spice, mocha and tobacco filling in on the finish. Rather lush and perhaps a touch too roasted in style for some folks, with enough just grip to keep it going. Best from 2013 through 2024. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 6,288 cases made. – JM, Wine SpectatorIntense aromas of blackberry and blueberry follow through to a full body, with well-integrated tannins and a fruity finish. Offers lots of licorice and spice. There’s lovely length to this. Reserved and pretty. – JS, Wine SpectatorReviews It boasts an inky/purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of mocha, chocolate, blackberry and cassis fruit, an unctuous texture, a full-bodied, viscous mouthfeel and a skyscraper-like, multilayered finish. This spectacular wine is nearly overwhelming in its richness, thickness and intensity. Once all its baby fat falls away, the terroir characteristics and additional nuances will emerge. This blockbuster, fabulous Troplong Mondot will benefit from 10-15 years of cellaring and keep for three decades or more. It is not shy either, bouncing over the palate with 1 5.5% natural alcohol. – RP, Wine AdvocateI tasted this wine four separate times, with three tastings extremely consistent, and one tasting showing slightly more noticeable and astringent tannin. Do I think it is going to be as prodigious as the 2005? No, but it is a compelling Troplong Mondot, and probably more approachable than the 2005 has been in its youth. This is a large vineyard, nearly 80 acres in size, and part of it had hail damage in May. They are late-harvesters, the Merlots were picked through October 10 and the Cabernet finished October 20, with very low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare, no doubt due at least in part to the hail damage. Alcohols on lots chosen for the grand vin are very high, between 14.5 and 15.5. The wine is inky purple in color, displaying beautiful creme de cassis, licorice, subtle smoke and graphite notes, enormous body, juicy, viscous texture, good vibrancy, a skycraper-like, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a whopping long finish of 40+ seconds. This is a great wine, probably more hedonistic and voluptuous than the 2005, but ultimately a tiny notch below that virtually perfect Troplong Mondot, which still gets my nod as the best ever made. This wine should evolve for at least 30-40 years. Tasted four times.. – RP, Wine AdvocateA very concentrated wine with such a stylish feel. It balances ripe berry fruits with chocolate and wood flavors in the richest, ripest combination. The wine has power, without losing its poised character. Ready for long aging. – RV, Wine Enthusiast93-95 Barrel sample. At this stage, the wood element is overpowering. You have to imagine the fruit, but the weight of the wine suggests it is there. Big, solid and chunky, it is the product of very ripe fruit. – RV, Wine EnthusiastSaturated medium ruby. Enticing aromas of cassis, coffee, mocha and licorice pastille. Hugely dense but finegrained, offering a liqueur-like, exotic sweetness to its superripe dark fruit and chocolate flavors. For all its richness and baby fat, the wine’s chalky underpinning prevents it from coming off as monolithic. Perhaps most impressive on the broad, extremely long, palate-staining finish, which features a boatload of ripe tannins and repeating sexy oak tones. This outstanding Troplong-Mondot should drink well for the next 25 years. – ST, International Wine Cellar .” – Chateau Troplong Mondot