2017 Château Troplong Mondot

98 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2017 Troplong Mondot is stunning, just as it was en primeur. Rich and ample, yet endowed with striking energy as well, the 2017 is the first vintage made by new CEO Aymeric de Gironde and consulting winemaker Thomas Duclos. The 2017 takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. All of the power that is typical of this site is evident, it seems to come so naturally, and yet picking earlier and then using a lighter hand in the cellar yielded a Troplong of uncommon energy and vibrancy. The 2017 has been nothing short of thrilling on the four occasions I have tasted it from bottle so far. What a wine! 98+

96 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

Aymeric de Gironde arrived here from Cos d'Estournel in September 2017, and he is clearly intending to make his mark. To get things started, they have brought the harvest dates forward (particularly on the Butte de Mondot, where drainage in recent years has stopped that clay mound being as cool as it once was). They have also stopped carrying out malolactic in new oak and brought the level of new oak down to 65% from 90%. They have a new consultant in the form of Thomas Duclos - this is surely his year - and carried out the blending before ageing in barrel, in a nod to Aymeric's left bank experience. Very little here was affected by the frost, giving a yield of 45hl/ha, 95% used for the grand vin. This is a terroir that doesn't need to be dressed up, as I have said several times in the past, and Aymeric is taking what had already begun under Xavier Parrente to the next level. This is one of the few wines to really make your heart race in 2017, with its blueberry and cool, black fruit notes with zippy minerality and a juicy, slightly saline finish. There is plenty of power, but it's contained, and the fruit is almost surprising in its purity and direction - it makes everyone around the table start talking. This is an extremely surprising 2017, one that I absolutely recommend witho(more...)

96 POINTS

James Suckling

Very perfumed and subtle with crushed currants, smoke and blackberries. Medium to full body. Compressed, round tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows focus and finesse with serious structure for the vintage. It grows slowly on the palate. Really beautiful. Drink after 2022.

95 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Troplong Mondot is a little closed to begin, soon unfurling to reveal expanding notions of warm blackberries, wild blueberries and licorice plus hints of smoked meats, black olives, pencil shavings and truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed mouth-coating black fruits, exploding into loads of earthy sparks with a soft, velvety texture from ripe, rounded tannins. It finishes with spectacular freshness and loads of layers. Drinking Window : 2024 - 2050

95 POINTS

Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

Licorice, smoke, black cherry, plum and crushed rocks create the nose. On the palate, the wine is full bodied, sweetly authentic and luxuriously textured. There is more virtue in the fruit but less density and lower alcohol than in previous vintages and

94 POINTS

James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

Very fresh in feel, with silky textured plum, cassis and cherry flavors infused with rooibos tea, mineral and floral notes. The long, refined finish lets the pure fruit sing, while the minerally edge adds detail. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2037. — JM

94 POINTS

Jacques Perrin - Vinifera

Monumental nez de cèdre, d’épices et quinquina, original et singulier, qui démontre le grand vin de plateau qu’il est. Bouche à l’avenant, d’une plénitude totale, assez hors classe pour le millésime par son côté truffé, viril et vineux. Impressionnant.

93 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

This wine has the bold fruit that is the hallmark of this estate. It is a generous wine, packed with soft fruit flavors and light tannins, suggesting a wine that will age relatively quickly. Drink this ripe wine from 2023.