Ch.Troplong Mondot 2019 ex-ch 375ml

Wine Advocate # 7th Apr 2022
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.

In the 17th century, the vineyard belonged to the Abbé Raymond de Sèze, who built the chateau as it stands today in 1745. The Sèze family was one of the most prestigious of the Bordeaux area's landed gentry and owned many other estates. It was particularly illustrious in providing Louis XVI with his personal lawyer, Raymond de Sèze. Under the aegis of the Abbé, Mondot won its place among the best Saint Emilion wines.
In 1850, Raymond Troplong took over Mondot and turned it into the 33-hectares estate, unchanged to this very day. A peer, a famous jurist and a lover of art and literature, he became president of the Senate in 1852 and held this office until his death in 1869. In spite of his state duties, he operated the rich Mondot estate with remarkable success, producing a highly prized wine classed by the renowned Annuaire des Châteaux de Féret as Saint-Emilion's second finest wine in 1868. Edouard Troplong, his nephew and successor, added the name Troplong to the estate before he sold it.
The château entered the modern age with the Valette family. Alexandre Valette, a Parisian vintner, bought the estate crafted by Raymond Troplong. He already owned Château La France in Fronsac and would soon acquire Château Pavie. In 1980 Alexandreâ??s great grand daughter, Christine, took over the estate and was joined, 10 years later, by her husband, Xavier Pariente. Together they continued to improve and embellish the vineyard, cellar and chateau. This hard work and their efforts proved worthwhile when in 2006 Troplong Mondot was awarded 1er Grand Cru Classé status.

Meats, Beef and Venison