Château Troplong Mondot - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2013

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

the3/31/2016

Jamessuckling.com

93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2016

A dense and beautiful wine with blueberry, blackberry, mineral and spice aromas. Full to medium body, tight and powerful. Precise and exceptionally well made.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/29/2014

Full-bodied and atypically rich and concentrated for a 2013, it boasts beautiful blueberry and creme de cassis fruit as well as underlying chalky minerality, and good richness and concentration. It is a noteworthy homage to Christine Vallete’s brilliant efforts at Troplong Mondot, which resulted in the elevation of this estate in the 2012 St.-Emilion classification. It can be enjoyed over the next 10-15 years.

It has been less than six months since the irrepressible and brilliant Christine Vallette passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. I must confess that tasting at Troplong Mondot was a powerful emotional experience. However, the 2013 is clearly one of the stars of the vintage.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

86-89 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe5/16/2014

Good full ruby.  Rather full-blown aromas of raspberry, truffle and underbrush are accompanied by strong notes of menthol and charred oak.  Sweet, broad and fresh, this Saint-Emilion boasts a fat middle and juicy dark berry flavors but the building tannins show a slightly dry edge.

timatkin.com

92 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe5/7/2014

True to the Troplong Mondot style, even in a lighter vintage, this has masses of colour, smoky oak and tannin, with dense, concentrated fruit flavours, mocha oak and bags of aroma. It’s low on finesse, but high on flavour. Mercifully lower in alcohol than usual.

matthewjukes.com

17,5 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/23/2014

A stunning nose dominated by fruit and not oak! The palate is tighter and more strictly controlled by the tannins but the mid-palate is sublime. Slimmer than usual, this is a very sexy wine with dark chocolate notes and very good layers of plum and oak.

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byRichard Hemmingsthe4/22/2014

Lots of sweet spice scent – clearly expensive oak. Dry, savoury palate with a fine-grained tannic texture. Persistent length. Rich without being overwrought. The fruit stands up to the oak and the structure too. Nicely done.

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/18/2014

The 2013 Troplong Mondot is gorgeous. Round, supple and resonant, the 2013 graces the palate with mocha, plums, spices and new leather. All the Troplong signatures are in place, but in miniature. The finish is long, supple and creamy. As always, Troplong Mondot is a wine of great personality and character, even in 2013.

Decanter.com

16,75 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/15/2014

Ripe, modern, red berry nose. Fresh and supple on attack then tight, firm  finish. No compromises, shows extraction but clean and long.

My Bettane + Desseauve

17,5 / 20

the4/15/2014

Boisé luxueux, mais ne masquant pas une matière sensuelle et complète pour le millésime.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/15/2014

Of course, it is never easy to appraise the new wine of a proprietor recently deceased, but the late Christine Valette would have been proud of this Troplong Mondot. The Grand Vin is a blend of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, alcohol levels coming in around the 13 degree mark. It has a pretty bouquet with dark cherries and raspberry fruit - fine precision here and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with fine structure and bead of acidity. The harmony is palpable here, with hints of dried herbs and cedar comes through on the assured finish. This is a successful and considered wine from Troplong Mondot and a testament to Christine Valette.

Wine Spectator

88-91 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2014

The core of plum and raspberry fruit mingles with a note of red licorice on the finish. Fresh acidity provides balance throughout. Solid. —J.M.

René Gabriel

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/3/2014

90 % Merlot, 10 % Cabernet Franc. Sattes Purpur-Granat. Intensives Bouquet von Waldbeeren Amarenakirschen und Kokosnoten, unterlegt mit schwarzer Schokolade. Im Gaumen sehr aromatisch, fleischig, verlangende, leicht körnige Tannine, hat Charakter. Die Gerbstoffrechnung könnte aufgehen, wenn noch etwas Fett von der Barrique dazu kommt. Leider ist diese Primeurprobe auf Troplong mit einer gewissen Trauer und mit grossem Respekt verbunden, denn die Besitzerin Christine Valette ist in der Primeurwoche einem langjährigen Krebsleiden erlegen.

Wine Enthusiast

90-92 / 100

byRoger Vossthe3/31/2014

New wood aromas underline the smoky, toasty nature of this wine. It’s all extraction, with a dark chocolate flavor and a firm, dry texture. It will need a long time to soften.