Castle Tronquoy-Lalande - Saint-Estèphe 2012

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2015

This fabulous, opaque ruby/purple-colored 2012 comes from an up-and-coming, overachieving estate in St.-Estèphe, owned by the proprietors of Montrose. There’s a good chunk of Merlot (57%) in the blend of this excellent wine (the balance is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot), which delivers sweet cassis and blueberry fruit that hits the palate with serious authority, admirable purity, impressive texture and a medium-bodied, long finish. This is an undeniable success and major sleeper of the vintage. (89+)

Jamessuckling.com

90 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2015

Starts off earthy and spicy but turns to dark fruits such as raspberries and blackberries. Full body, chewy tannins and a medium finish. Needs a year or two to soften. Better in 2017. Well done for vintage.

timatkin.com

92 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2013

This Château Montrose-owned property has made a rich and pretty dense wine for the vintage with bags of colour and serious tannins. But beneath the carapace, this is a wine with some finesse, showing chalky minerality and enough cassis and black cherry fruit for balance. Drink: 2020-28

Le Point

14,5-15 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/16/2013

Joli nez, bouche tendre, tendue, fraîche, droite, tanins assez fins, bon végétale en finale. O=2015 G=7 ans

Wine Spectator

87-90 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2013

Shows a decidedly dusty feel from the start, with a pebbly undertow and notes of damson plum and red currant, displaying a floral hint. —J.M.

matthewjukes.com

17 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/30/2013

Wine Advocate

88-90 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2013

Tasted as a barrel sample at en primeur. In 2012, the Petit Verdot did not receive complete ripeness and so it was almost entirely demoted into the Second wine. The nose is quite elegant and refined with blackberry, cassis and just a touch of pencil shaving – quite Pauillac in style. The palate is nicely balanced on the entry, fresh in the mouth with that graphite note evident at Cos d’Estournel. It is a masculine wine with good structure on the finish, if not quite the length of previous vintages. Fine, but somehow conservative and it drops away quite rapidly. Tasted April 2013.

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/25/2013

Drink 2017-2027
Deep crimson. Real lift on the nose. Thick and sweet and earthbound but admirably balanced. Dances. Fresh and succulent.

Decanter.com

16,5 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/22/2013

Superb colour, lots of black fruits and fleshy grip, a very good but quite tannic wine from the Montrose stable. 16.5/20pts ( 88/100pts)
Drink: 2016 - 2026