Chateau Troplong Mondot, Saint Emilion, Grand Cru Classe 2019

Chateau Troplong Mondot, Saint Emilion, Grand Cru Classe 2019 Château Troplong Mondot Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2019 is a rich, polished and highly expressive Right Bank Bordeaux with impressive depth and serious cellar appeal. It combines the estate’s signature intensity with the freshness and balance that define the best 2019 Bordeaux, making it both luxurious and ageworthy. Critic tasting notes: (2019 vintage) "The magnificent Merlot in the blend has pushed up the alcohol, while also giving a velvet touch and power to the wine. This estate is now on top form, producing this generously ripe, black plum flavored wine. It is lifted by acidity while powering the wine's intensity. Drink from 2026." - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (100/100) "Has any Bordeaux château realized a more wholesale stylistic revolution in so short a time than Troplong Mondot? Since Aymeric de Gironde arrived at the estate in late 2017, the ultra powerful "shock and awe" style of the 2000s is out, and a new refinement is in. Of course, the deep clays that define the core vineyards around the château itself are never likely to produce light or ephemeral wines, but de Gironde has astutely understood that (to develop an analogy), when driving down hill, one can ease off on the accelerator. The 2019 Troplong Mondot is a ringing endorsement of the new direction, wafting from the glass with complex aromas of wild berries, violets, coniferous forest floor, licorice, raw cocoa and subtle spices, followed by a full-bodied, velvety and layered palate that's seamless and perfumed, its enveloping core of succulent fruit framed by rich, powdery tannins and lively acids. Harmonious and penetrating, I never thought I'd taste a wine like this from Troplong Mondot. It's hard to think of any estate in contemporary Bordeaux that has witnessed a revolution more profound than that effected by Aymeric de Gironde at Troplong Mondot since his arrival here just after the 2017 harvest. The château itself sits at the peak of a dome of clay (known to geologists as molasses de l'Agenais) some 11-12 meters thick that has never been eroded away, and it's the vines that grow here that represent the heart of Troplong Mondot. These clays were compacted, so one of de Gironde's first initiatives was to work to undo that, ploughing by horse and employing cover crops. But Troplong's vineyards aren't limited to this dome: they encompass a range of altitudes from 40 to 110 meters above sea level, ranging onto the plateau toward the town of Saint-Émilion and almost to its edge to the south, obligating a broad window of harvesting dates, with greater attention paid to avoiding over-ripeness. Other evolutions have occurred in the winery and cellar: malolactic fermentation now completes in tank instead of in barrel; and the percentage of new oak is much reduced and, more importantly, less impactful in profile. All of which has brought new aromatic range and textural finesse and, above all, better balance to wines that, in trying to push the boundaries, in the past tended to exceed them. Having tasted Troplong Mondot back to 1959 over the years, I can attest that this site, well-farmed, is never going to produce light, ephemeral wines: power can be taken for granted. What's less self-evident is to render that power with finesse. The 2019 vintage demonstrates that de Gironde and his team are capable of doing just that." - Robert Parker The Wine Advocate, Reviewed by: William Kelley (98/100) "While it is the intensity of the floral bouquet you find at first, it doesn't take any time before discovering its nuances of licorice, black and red plums, dark cherries, cocoa, and box of cooking spices. Full-bodied, deep, and concentrated, with a vivid character to the fruit, silky tannins, and a finish that displays its chalky edge to the layers of sweet, ripe fruits that linger. Drink from 2026-2055." - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (97/100) "The purity of fruit is pretty phenomenal here with blackcurrants, cherries and crushed-stone undertones. Floral notes of roses and violets, too. Full-bodied, yet this is a linear style with super fine tannins and great length and beauty. You really want to drink it. It grows on the palate and shows real power, with breadth and depth. Remains fresh throughout. Really something. Try after 2026." - James Suckling Site & Identity Troplong Mondot sits on a limestone-rich plateau and hillside site in northeast Saint-Émilion, where the clay-limestone terroir naturally produces wines of power, freshness and aromatic lift. The estate is planted predominantly to Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc adding structure and nuance, and the 2019 vintage reflects the newer style under Aymeric de Gironde: less overtly extracted, more refined, and notably fresher than the estate’s older, weightier profile. This is a grand vin that feels both modern and classical, with concentration wrapped in a more transparent and energetic frame. Technical Tasting Note Appearance: Deep ruby to dark garnet, with a dense core and youthful purple highlights. Nose: Wild berries, black cherry, redcurrant, violets, lavender, licorice, raw cocoa, underbrush and fine mineral notes. Palate: Full-bodied and velvety, with juicy dark fruit, firm grainy tannins and a layered, seamless texture; the 2019 shows both richness and tension, with a lively, fresh core. Finish: Long, minerally and composed, with a savory, floral echo and a fresh line that keeps the wine lifted rather than heavy. Winemaking & Style The 2019 blend is 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, with élevage in a mix of new and used oak and a clear move toward freshness in the cellar approach. The vintage is described as a turning point for the estate, delivering a more vibrant and precise expression of Troplong Mondot while retaining the depth, power and perfume that make the wine so recognizable. For a product page, the key message is a serious Saint-Émilion that feels opulent yet disciplined, with strong collector appeal and excellent aging potential. Food Pairing Excellent with roast lamb, duck breast, beef tenderloin, venison, truffle dishes and mushroom risotto. Its combination of richness, freshness and fine tannins also makes it a superb match for refined French cuisine and long-cellar occasions.