Tasting three vintages of Château Troplong Mondot

Tasted Thursday, October 5, 2023 by PSPatrick with 89 views

Introduction

A wine retailer provided samples of Château Troplong Mondot 2006, 2016 and 2020. I was not able to make it to the online event, so I tasted the wines side by side the next day, with a surprising result.

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2006 Château Troplong Mondot 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Tasting sample provided by a wine retailer. A blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV. Dark garnet colour. Dark, lightly raisiny fruit, plum, fig, some chocolate, tobacco, and spice cake note, with medium-level acidity, high, fine tannin, and very good length. Average complexity but good concentration. The alcohol is very lightly warming. The exceptional length stands out. The fruit is starting to become raisiny and tertiary, but the tanning is still youthful, raising concerns if the tannin will outlive the fruit. I would drink now, paired with a rib-eye steak.

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  • 2016 Château Troplong Mondot 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Tasting sample provided by a wine retailer. A blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. 15.5% ABV. Deep ruby colour. Dark fruit, cassis, blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry, dark plum, some chocolate, gingerbread, light cigar box, and some tobacco, with medium-level acidity and very good length. Full, and broad, but with good structure. A masculine wines. Still young. Start drinking from 2028.

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  • 2020 Château Troplong Mondot 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Tasting sample provided by a wine retailer. A blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV. Dark ruby colour. Sweet-scented nose. Red fruit, cassis, blueberry, herbal notes, chocolate, spices, liquorice, with good acidity, firm but well-integrated tannin, and very good length. Keeps developing in the glass. Great complexity. Stylistically different from the 2006 and 2016; more elegant, a huge contrast to the full, broad, masculine 2016 tasted side by side, with fresher fruit and better freshness overall. I have not been a fan of Troplong Mondot in the past, but this new style wins me over!

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Closing

Historically, I have never been a fan of Château Troplong Mondot. I just did not like the full, ripe, alcoholic style. The fresher, more elegant style of the 2020 was a surprise to me, a style I can easily make friends with.

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