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| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.5 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 144 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by 6831 on 12/31/2023 & rated 92 points: Superbly balanced with deep black fruit, ash, sweet tobacco, smokey chocolate and black pepper notes. Finishes with moderate length and without much complexity but a joy to drink. (557 views) | | | Tasted by sdwineguru on 11/19/2023 & rated 92 points: Evolving St. Emilion 2003 Château Troplong Mondot (gift in 2006). Mid-garnet, brick edges, not sharp; herbaceous, red fruit, tobacco, mint and cocoa nose; mid acids; mid tannins; good depth of fruit; semi-long red fruit and berry finish; opens with air. w/short ribs. 17 UC Davis scale, 92 other scales. (669 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 5/7/2023 & rated 89 points: Bordeaux 2003 – 20 Years On – 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind, not decanted (some wines would have needed it). Observations: 1) 2003 is not a good vintage. The wines don’t have the depth and elegance of good years. But I was positively surprised, that while it’s clearly a hot year, there are less overripe, over-extracted and prematurely dying wines than in 09/10. Still, there is no comparison to how Chateauxs handle hot years today. 2) Compared to five other vintage retrospectives, the 2003 came in last place (lower average score than 2011), with just Chateau Margaux reaching a group score above 95pts. 3) Margaux wines showed best, with the typical immediate charm, while St. Estephe and Pauillac have potential but will need more time (and/or would have needed more air). 4) Right bank wines did not show as good with some alcohol showing and a few wines being on a downhill path. I would not chase 2003 right banks.
TN: Not much precise aromas on the nose. On the palate there is a bit of red fruit, quite ripe, some oaky notes, some herbs, but not overly deep. While the structural frame is intact and comes with a good freshness, the tannins are slightly drying. Others like it more than I do.
Decanting: A short decant should do the job.
Group average: 91.0 pts
Group rank: Shared 15th out of 29 reds (2582 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 3/20/2023 & rated 91 points: Grand Bordeaux 2003 horizontal tasting (Fribourg): Bordeaux 2003 vintage horizontal hosted by a private collector and moderated by Jean-Marc Quarin. Main observations: 1/ Average quality is acceptable, but weighted down by various low-lights, esp. on the right bank. 2/ In general a tannic vintage, lacking balance. 3/ Top 3 wines were Lafite, Mouton and Margaux (all 95). See the tasting story for a complete overview and additional vintage comments.
Tasting note:
More mature and aged than most in the vintage, but with still pleasant features. Leather, smoke, underwood, ripe raspberry fruit, graphite, mocha. While admittedly improving with time in the glass, this sound better than it was with a chewy palate and drying tannin. (1977 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 11/23/2022 & rated 85 points: 20 Vintages of Troplong Mondot: This was a trainwreck of a vertical tasting. An average of meager 86.8 pts, only 6 wines with a rating of more than 90pts. Almost all wines pre 2017 and a winemaker/style change have dried out. Too much extraction and heavy oak treatment produced wines that did not age well, have no fruit and charm left. I don’t have group ratings but the sentiment in the room was similar (this was the fastest tasting ever with this group). It was a root day but that can’t explain everything. Also, the provenance or storage of the bottles was no issue (all bought En Primeur, stored perfectly since). Troplong Mondot seems to be a victim of a series of bad choices, mainly the wrong consultant. Luckily, the future looks brighter.
TN: Not much on the nose. On the palate this is rather short and drying. There is a bit more mid palate weight than in others and some fruit is there but it is still not good with alcohol showing and a drying finish. (2887 views) | | | Tasted by Andyrodriguez87 on 8/17/2022 & rated 90 points: This one was tough. Upon opening, this was completely generic and non-descript aromatically. On the palate it was much of the same showing no charm, no balance, a lack of freshness, an uncomfortable amount of extract, sandy tannin and noticeable heat framed around a ‘modern’ style that featured bitter dark chocolate and dark fruit. After 2 hours in the decanter, this showed much of the same, just more rounded and easier to drink. I get it - ‘03. But plenty of good (trotanoy and leoville Barton) and even great (Montrose and Latour come to mind) wines were made in ‘03. A change for a more modern style at this address, paired with the vintage characteristics made this a hard one to enjoy. I can’t get a read on a drinking window because this doesn’t have what it needs to in order for it to develop into anything more interesting, so I guess drink up? Or wait and see if further development brings forth something worth tasting or smelling? Weird and generic with pretty much nothing interesting going on. It simply tasted like…….’wine’, if that makes any sense. My only bottle of this and certainly not buying more (2103 views) | | | Tasted by Swintonblade on 5/6/2022 & rated 95 points: Tasted at the winery restaurant Les Belles Perdrix (236 views) | | | Tasted by Burgnick on 4/17/2022 & rated 91 points: Double decanted to serve. Cassis, mocha, blackberries, chocolate, cinnamon and oak. Modern, powerful and smoothe. It has just entered its drinking window. 91-92 (2655 views) | | | Tasted by Mr T on 12/31/2021: Still dark-fruited but not nearly as lush as earlier bottles. I actually found it a bit green and even slightly sour. Don't know if this representative of how this ages, but don't see any reason to let these age much more. (2300 views) | | | Tasted by Ara Kafafian on 12/1/2021 & rated 90 points: Blind, a tad disappointing, medium body, short finish, simple and linear, no complexity, an off bottle? (2406 views) | | | Tasted by Nicolas Beirens on 9/10/2021 & rated 93 points: Bit of an off vintage, but what an intensity. Nose of smoke, oak and chocolate. Taste of chocolate and black fruit. The vintage is good to drink now. (2236 views) | | | Tasted by MLwine on 9/1/2021 & rated 92 points: This wine has developed nicely in the last two years. The tannins have resolved, and the wine is well-balanced. Still plenty of fruit. It's in a good place right now. (1936 views) | | | Tasted by tom_wine on 8/30/2021 & rated 92 points: Drinking perfectly now with ripe and forward black cherry, plum fruit flavors. Rich in the mouth with lingering finish and herbal, mint aromas. The high alcohol and forward, sweet fruit reminds me more of a California cult wine than Right Bank. The merlot really stands out here. Glad to have opened a bottle after being very disappointed by two T-M from 2004. What a difference a vintage makes. (1738 views) | | | Tasted by Édifice on 7/23/2021 & rated 94 points: Ripe bouquet with some plum and raisins, stewed fruits, yet also Eucalyptus. Initially a bit disjointed, with the oak sticking out as well as some heat, however also some mint and freshness, integrating over time to become a lush, pleasurable wine, round, silky, more balanced, while remaining on the hedonistic side. (1476 views) | | | Tasted by Geoff on 2/18/2021 & rated 94 points: Marvelous Right Bank wine. Deep dark color,soft red and dark fruit, eucalyptus, cedar, spice, oak, multiple layers of secondary and tertiary notes, sweet tannins resolved, smooth mouthfeel, elegant yet powerful, classy. Long finish. This is the real deal. (2085 views) | | | Tasted by Andice on 2/5/2021 & rated 92 points: Good open earthy nose with sweet notes. Sweetness followed thru on the palate, distinctly merlot. A bit of stewed note towards the end due to vintage. Middle of drinking window. Not too bad given the bad rep of 03 right bank. (1915 views) | | | Tasted by Édifice on 1/9/2021 & rated 94 points: Dark berry preserve, undergrowth, touch of vanilla, liquor on the bouquet. Palate is fully on first night, balancing out further second and third night, lush, sweet, with nice acidity and a touch of bitterness,with very fine tannins. Has a slight overextracted touch with a tiny bit of heat but very enjoyable overall, hedonistic. In a great drinking window with still a few years left, remained stable over 3 nights. (1935 views) | | | Tasted by dnnk88 on 12/18/2020 & rated 91 points: Dec Catch Up @ C@B!: Black fruits, red fruits, dark plums, liquorice, quite ripe and extracted in style. Quite full bodied with sweet tannins. This should improve with more time. Hold (2036 views) | | | Tasted by theusualsuspect on 9/13/2020 & rated 90 points: In the highly extracted style. Visually dense, dense on the palate. A big mouthful that pretty much lacks nuance or complexity. Chaque a son gout.
An added note I recently acquired some N95 masks, and thought to search as to whether they screen out aromas. They don't. But what I've actually found is that they enhance and concentrate aromas. With the mask the aroma of this wine was more concentrated and clear than without it.
I add this wine has been stored at 47 degrees since acquisition upon release. Has moved along but strikes me as pretty much primary. (2314 views) | | | Tasted by tbone on 4/20/2020: Drinking fantastic now with quick decant. (2519 views) | | | Tasted by frenchiecagowine on 4/18/2020 & rated 93 points: Deep red with little rim variation for a 15-year old wine. The nose is full, sweet, almost Kirsch-like cherries, leather and spices. Very promising. On the palate, tannins are fine but present the first day. On the second day, they're fully integrated. There's definitely the sweetness of Merlot but still balanced, and long. This is a great buy. Classic left bank Bordeaux and another reminder of the timelessness of great Bordeaux wines. (2425 views) | | | Tasted by Geoff on 1/5/2020 & rated 93 points: Different vender, needed more air, several hour decant to open up. Same profile as before, but tasted like a young wine needing more time to integrate flavors and soften tannins. All in all, still an enjoyable wine. (2703 views) | | | Tasted by srh on 1/4/2020: Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 6 *shared* bottles] from 01/03/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): You started off 2020 with a BANG by so graciously sharing this, Dr. Tom! :)
Decanted; I'm guessing this had ≈2-1/2 hrs in a small tasting glass before I got to it.
Planted to 85% Merlot, 13% C.S., & 2% C.F. [though that may not have been the case in ‘03] to soils of deep limestone deposits under layers of thick clay;
N: VANILLA with notes of leather, minerals, & RIPE berries coming on with addt'l swirling
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt fairly quickly met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it pretty much works its way out by the LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy, bitterish finish with a burgeoning swtness to the DUSTY tannins. Guessing this NEEDS through '21, then making its 25th? 14% ABV; My EXC-/EXC, likely the higher with addt'l cellaring. 16, 15.5, & 14.5/20 Jancis Robinson (ult Harding, 3/21/13), + NUMEROUS other scores on wine-searcher's Tasting Notes pg. [While this vendor may or may not have addt'l bottles @ $100.95, I noticed one wine-searcher source showing 1 bottle @ $75.] (2792 views) | | | Tasted by dischome on 12/28/2019 & rated 89 points: 8/10 rating Very good. Don't know cost (2325 views) | | | Tasted by vinhonotte on 9/19/2019 & rated 92 points: GrandCuvee - Bordeaux 2003 Horizontal (Praelum Wine Bistro): Some vanilla, cocoa, and bit green herbal on the nose. Good balance of intensity and tannin, while the alcohol is indeed hot. Most of it is cocoa and espresso beans, and a bit of paprika. Mainly leavin milk chocolates on the back palate and finish. Would have been a blockbuster if not for the sharp hit of alcohol, but I’d say it’s really an effort well done (2607 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Château Troplong Mondot Producer website -- Read more about Chateau Troplong MondotRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanLibournais Libournais (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) - Read more about St. Emilion and its wines - Read more about Pomerol and its wines
Saint Emilion Grat Classified Growth, Classified Growths, Grands Crus Classes, GCC
In 1954, while the "Graves" growths had just published their own classification, the wine syndicate of Saint-Emilion, composed by wine growers, brokers and wine traders with the approval of the INAO - Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (A.O.C), decided to work on a classification for the wines of Saint Emilion. Initially, four grades were defined. These were reduced to two - First Great Classified Growth (A and B) and Great Classified Growth - in 1984.
As of Medoc's 1855 historical grading, the Saint-Emilion Great Classified Growth classification is not only based on qualitative criteria by tasting the wines on a ten years period previous to the assessment, but also on commercial considerations such as:
- sales price levels
- national and international commercial distribution
- the estate's reputation on the market
Properties who don't manage to join the club of about sixty Classified Growths are given the denomination of Great Growth ("Grand Cru"), while the remaining wineries of the A.O.C are simply reported as "Saint-Emilion". It is to be noted that the owners must officially apply to appear in the official classification. Thus for example the famous Chateau Tertre-Roteboeuf, whose quality and reputation would easily justify to be listed among the First Great Classified Growths, does not appear here by the will of its owner, François Mitjaville.
The Saint-Emilion Great Growth classification was revised in 1969, 1985, 1996 and 2006. The only two guaranteed vintage (A.O.C) who can apply to the classification are the "Saint-Emilion Grand Cru" and "Saint-Emilion" areas.
By grading 61 properties, the 2006 revision confirmed many growths from the former classification, but also caused a number of surprises and a few inevitable disappointments. Many observers thought that the impressive progression of Perse's Chateau Pavie since 1998 would be rewarded by an upgrade into the First Great Classified Growths (A) category, but finally such was not the case.
Among the estates promoted to the First Great Classified Growths B category are Chateau Troplong-Mondot and Pavie-Macquin, whose efforts made since the Nineties fully justify their new grade. It should be noted that no First Great Classified Growth was relegated to the lower Great Classified Growth class.
Promoted growths from the status of Great Growth ("Grand Cru") to Great Classified Growth ("Grand Cru Classe") are: Chateaux Bellefont-Belcier, Destieux, Fleur Cardinale, Grand Corbin, Grand Corbin-Despagne and Monbousquet.
The demoted growths from the status of Great Classified Growth to Great Growth are: Chateaux Bellevue, Cadet Bon, Faurie de Souchard, Guadet Saint-Julien, La Tour du Pin-Figeac (Belivier), La Tour du Pin-Figeac (Moueix), Lamarzelle, Petite Faurie de Soutard, Tertre Daugay, Villemaurine and Yon-Figeac. If the recent samples of some of the above mentioned properties may justify their current downgrade, there are great chances that estates like Bellevue, Tertre Daugay or Yon-Figeac will be upgraded to their previous rankings by the next revision in 2016 as the progresses noted after 2000, but not entering in the range of vintages (1993 - 2002) appointed for the criteria of selection for the 2006 classification, are noticable.
The two following estates have completely disappeared from the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classification: Curé-Bon-la-Madeleine (integrated meanwhile to Chateau Canon) and La Clusière (integrated meanwhile to Chateau Pavie).
Finally, no estate considered as "garagiste" has integrated the classification. Valandraud, Mondotte, Le Dome, Bellevue-Mondotte or Magrez-Fombrauge have, for the least, the potential to be ranked as Great Classified Growths. In sight of the very fine quality reached by the above mentioned estates in recent vintages as well as all the innovative wine making methods used by the "garagistes", it remains to be seen whether the authorities will dare to cross the line in 2016..?St. Émilion Grand Cru Les Vins de St. Émilion (Syndicate Vitocole de Saint-Emilion) – Read about St. Emilion
Vins de Bordeaux:
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Soil: Sandy soils with alluvial gravel deposits
Surface Area: 4,160 ha |
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