Chateau Troplong Mondot 2006

Chateau Troplong Mondot is a Premier Grand Cru of St. Emilion. The 33 hectare vineyard is situated on the St. Emilion slopes, at an elevation that allows views of the entire St. Emilion village. The soil consists of deep limestone deposits under layers of thick clay. There are also sedimentary fragments of flint and limestone.

Troplong Mondot typically is thick and rich, and has scents of dark plums, liquorice, blackberries, coffee, spice, dark cherries, stone, chocolate, flowers and blackberry liqueur. The wine can also age and evolve. 2006 was a good year in Bordeaux, and Troplong Mondot produced a very good wine. From a blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine was aged in 75% new oak and reached 14.5% alcohol. Smoke, oak, charcoal and black fruit scents are reticent about displaying their aromas, but some age will help.

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast    A wine that succeeds in combining great depth of flavor and structure with an impressive array of flavors. On top of the tannins is juicy black fruit, cocoa, a welter of spice and ripeness. The acidity and new wood put the wine into a more modern style. Wait for at least 5-7 years. *Cellar Selection* 

93 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate    Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 2006 Troplong-Mondot is deep in color with minimal ageing on the rim. The bouquet is rich and generous with mulberry, Hoi Sin, orange blossom and melted tar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, generous black pepper and graphite notes cutting through the dense black fruit, leading to an engaging, tensile, graphite and tobacco-driven finish that exerts both body and length. It still has that slight stockiness, but that is something I like. I have always found much to admire in this vintage of Troplong-Mondot and it continues to give so much pleasure. 

93 Points - Vinous    Bright, deep ruby-red. Brooding aromas of crushed blueberry, bitter chocolate and roast coffee. Rich, broad and sweet, with an almost liqueur-like ripeness of dark berries leavened by brisk acidity and firm minerality. Lots of lift and life here for such a lush, creamy wine. Finishes with big, sweet, building tannins and terrific palate-staining length. This should enjoy a long evolution in bottle. 

91 Points - Wine Spectator     Coffee, cedar, blackberry and tobacco aromas follow through to a tight, powerful palate. This is full yet very reserved, with silky, polished tannins.