Troplong Mondot - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2010

Vinous

94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2020

The 2010 Troplong Mondot, which clocks in at 15.8% alcohol no less, actually has developed an elegant bouquet with perfumed red berry fruit laced with rose petal, sous-bois and pencil box aromas, focused and quite delineated. The palate is silky smooth on the entry with a fine bead of acidity. There is a fair whack of new oak and alcohol evident here, but that velvety finish and its persistence will be irresistible to those that like almost "brash" Saint-Émilions. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Drink 2020-2034. 94? Points

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/5/2020

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Troplong Mondot explodes with beautiful floral notes of red roses and candied violets over a core of plum preserves, kirsch and blueberry pie with a waft of bouquet garni. Full-bodied, rich and decadently fruited, it has bags of plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing very long and sinfully hedonic.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

95 / 100

the8/31/2013

Deep ruby. Knockout nose combines sexy black raspberry, smoky earth tones, dark chocolate and spices. Lush, dense, sweet and complete, with black fruit, cocoa powder and mineral flavors offering both full ripeness and a cool restraint. Really insinuating depth of flavor here. Finishes with powerful echoing black fruits and great focus and length, with substantial but ripe and perfectly integrated tannins. A great example of a late-ripening terroir in a long growing season without extreme heat.

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2013

Ripe and dense, but very vibrant and energetic, as a torrent of cassis, blackberry coulis and fig paste rushes through, framed by enticing black licorice and evenly roasted alder and juniper notes. The long finish has lots of grip and acidity, but they work together and are deeply embedded. Captures the fruit and structure of the vintage superbly. Best from 2015 through 2030. –JM

Wine Advocate

99 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe3/1/2013

Inky, bluish/black/purple, with notes of spring flowers, licorice, camphor, graphite, and a boatload of blueberry, black raspberry and blackberry fruit, this is a powerful, full-bodied Troplong Mondot. All the building components of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol are judiciously and impressively integrated. It is a blend of 90% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc made by Christine Valette and her husband Xavier Pariente with the consultancy help of Michel Rolland. I-m not sure what the heady alcohol level is in Troplong Mondot in 2010 (it certainly must be in the 15%+ range), but it is well-concealed behind the extravagant, richness, full-bodied power, and pure nobility of this majestic wine. Forget this for 5-7 years and drink it over the following three decades.An absolutely stunning wine from this estate, which seems to be on a mission to produce exquisite world-class wines with enormous aging potential, the 2010 is showing better from bottle than it even did from barrel.

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/17/2013

Very intense blackberry and blueberry character on the nose. Full body with super refined tannins and beautiful fruit. So delicious and pretty. Very rich and a little high-octane. Yet luscious and flamboyant. Try in 2018.

Wine Advocate

/ 100

byNeal Martinthe2/14/2013

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London and subsequently at the property. The 2010 is a blend of 87.5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 7.5% Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 32hl/ha raised entirely in new oak. The nose is clean and pure with redcurrant jus, raspberry preserve and thickly layered blueberry jam. The alcohol, at a whopping 16% (actually 15.8%) is fairly well disguised. The palate is full-bodied with spicy black fruit on the entry infused with Asian spice and black pepper. Whilst the aromatics covet the alcohol level, in my mind it renders the finish rather heavy in the mouth and I can feel warmth at the back of the throat that would become fatiguing with time. My problem is that it is not easily definable as a Saint Emilion and there is a loss of terroir expression. Tasted November 2012 (?)

La Revue du Vin de France

19-20 / 20

the5/31/2011

La couleur est comme toujours impressionnte. Le nez est vigoureux, avec une expression de fruit splendide, pure, nette, franche, et le boisé gagne en discrétion. C'est puissant, riche et encore plus dense que 2009, mais avec une fraîcheur magnifique. La beauté de ce vin vient de la discrétion du toast de la barrique (la totalité du vin ayant effectué ses fermentations malo-lactiques en barriques neuves). Cette année, l'assemblage sera représentatif du vignoble avec 83% de merlot, 11% de cabernet sauvignon et 6% de cabernet franc. Ce cru se distingue par un gain de finesse indiscutable. Les travaux de sélection et d'affinage engagés par Xavier pariente favorisent l'élégance des tanins et la sensibilité gustative de ce millésime. Le 2010 entrera dans l'histoire, comme son aîné le 1990.

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

2010: An amazing wine, the 2010 is right up there with the extraordinary quality of 2009, 2005 and 1990. Made from yields of 32 hectoliters per hectare, the final blend was 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. A late harvest between October 4 and 16 with the last of the Cabernet Franc coming in on October 28 no doubt accounts for the wine’s powerful 15.5% natural alcohol. Of course, the anti-alcohol folks will make a big deal of this, but despite the high alcohol levels in nearly every 2010, there is freshness, precision, definition and absolutely no heat in the wines whatsoever. This stunningly rich effort offers abundant blueberry, black raspberry, licorice and graphite notes intermixed with a hint of espresso roast, a seriously concentrated, super-intense mouthfeel, full-bodied power, a complex, multidimensional texture and a nearly 50-second finish. It will require 5-6 years of bottle age after its release and should keep for three decades or more. Just prodigious! (96-98+ points)

Asian Palate

91-94 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/24/2011

This is a lovely Troplong Mondot, exhibiting classic St Emilion flavours with purity of fruit and freshness. The attractive aromas of violets and cassis follow through on the palate with layered flavours and long length. This is a beautifully crafted wine with a gorgeous nose and expressive flavours. The beauty of this wine is that it will drink well in its youth but also keep for at least a few decades.

Le Point

16,5-17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/12/2011

Violette, fruits noirs, bouche puissante, un peu confite, qui traduit un fort degré de maturité. Puissant, dense, riche, beaucoup de matière, tanins serrés, des notes fruits cuits, très riche, opulent, à la limite de la lourdeur. O=2020 G=20 ans

TAST

18 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2011

Grand vin onctueux, profond, allonge harmonieuse et racée, indéniablement un volume brillant. Vin très classique dans le meilleur sens du terme.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/30/2011

What a nose. Gorgeous aromas of minerals, flowers and dark berries. Stunning. Full bodied, with a solid core of fruit and racy tannins. Citrusy finish too. Loving this.

Decanter Magazine

18,5 / 20

byJames Lawther MWthe4/30/2011

A modern beauty. Still has deep colour, power and density but there seems to be more refinement these days. Rich, complex nose with cassis, cacao, spice and menthol notes. Sumptuous texture, balancing acidity and long, firm finish. Drink 2020-2035. (18.5 points)

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2011

A powerful wine in the making, with a forceful beam of blackberry, boysenberry and fig fruit pushed hard by graphite and anise. Offers loads of grip on the back end, with serious length. All the pieces are in place. —J.M.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,75-18 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/30/2011

Couleur sombre et intense. Nez complexe qui passe du fruit frais, au fruit noir, à la truffe. En bouche la puissance du corps s'ajoute à un toucher royal et le merlot prend une trame quasi minérale. Très complet, délicieux sous sa puissance, il s'achève incrachable! Du grand vin.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97-98 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/25/2011

Troplong Mondot has been slowly increasing the amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in the vineyards. 2010 is the first year featuring a substantial portion (14%) in the blend, along with 83% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Previous recent vintages have included about 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Currently, the vineyard is planted to 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the goal set to about 20%. The Cabernet Sauvignon is planted in clay soil, as it does not grow well in limestone. Yields were low in this vintage at 32 hectoliters per hectare, the same as in 2009. The wine reached 15.5% alcohol. For people that like to compare, 2009 came in at 15.4% alcohol. The pH is 3.6 is for the Merlot and 3.75 in Cabernet Sauvignon. Those low levels of pH allow the wine to feel fresh and offer lift. 2010 expresses more lift than 2009. . Midnight black in color, with a perfume filled with minerality, licorice, blueberry, blackberry, jam and clay, this dense, chocolate covered, sweet boysenberry filled wine packs a lot of wine into the bottle. Sensuous, palate staining, incredibly concentrated and rich, the wine coats your palate. The experience ends with a long bath of chocolate covered blackberries and black cherry liqueur that combine for a hedonistic treat. This decadent wine is one of the great vintages of Troplong Mondot. 97-98 Pts

Wine Enthusiast

93-95 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/6/2011

Minty aromas, smooth wood, a wine that has great richness, elegance. It is dominated by new wood, while the delicious black currant fruits cut through with acidity. A modern, stylish wine.-R.V.