Château Troplong Mondot 2011

$89.95
Out of stock
SKU
5442-2011

• Domaine: Château Troplong Mondot
• Appellation: Saint-Émilion
• Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé
• Origin: Right Bank, Bordeaux, France

Château Troplong Mondot is a Saint-Émilion property that epitomizes the classic characteristics of this dynamic and rich terroir.  This estate exists very much within a class of its own and has captivated the minds of viticultural giants within the wine industry due to its close proximity to great neighbors like Château Pavie.  The property has been in possession of titans like the Thienponts, the Valettes and the de Seze families – all well respected vignerons and négociants who have overseen operations at iconic estates such as Château Vieux Château Certan.  There is undeniably something very special about this Right Bank estate, and it was ranked a Saint-Émilion Premiere Grand Cru Classés Class B property – one of the highest of honors.  

 

Château Troplong Mondot hosts a history that is about as rich as its terroir.  Origins of the estate date back to the 17th Century, when it was owned by Abbe Raymond de Seze, who built the château on its stunning grounds.  The de Seze family were already well established within the wine world, and they owned Château Troplong Mondot for one hundred years.  The property was then purchased by Raymond Troplong, who gave the estate its namesake and increased the size of the vineyard holdings to what they are today.  Château Troplong Mondot eventually was acquired by the legendary Thienpont family, who oversaw operations at the estate for a long time, but it wasn’t until the estate was purchased by Christine Valette that Château Troplong Mondot really began its meteoric rise in quality.

 

Christine Valette was a wonderful, kind, smart and savvy woman who started managing the property in 1980.  She made a series of sweeping changes to the estate, such as switching everything over to manual harvesting, lowering yields, and removing the copious amounts of Malbec vines that were planted over the grounds.  Christine also changed the cellars at Château Troplong Mondot, like adding temperature controlled, stainless-steel tanks in the vat room.  It was only a mere matter of time before critics started to take notice of the increased quality of the grand vin coming from this estate.  The property was classified as one of the Premiere Grand Crus Classés properties in Saint-Émilion in 2006, and the vintages released during Christine’s tenure at the estate were considered some of the most profound of all time.  Tragically, Christine passed away but her legacy at the estate lives on.

 

Today, the property is managed by the French insurance company SOCR.  A massive renovation was done to the cellars, and it was completed as of 2020.  The 37 hectare vineyard is planted with a mixture of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon which thrive in the limestone soil.  The majority of the vines are 35 years old, but there are some parcels where the plantings are close to 100 years old.  The wine from Château Troplong Mondot is formidable, richly concentrated and possess an almost exotic undercurrent in terms of character.  It is recommended one give their bottle of grand vin just a little bit of time for it to reveal all of its complexities. 

Tasting Notes

"95 out of 100…The brilliant 2011 Troplong Mondot is one of the superstars of the vintage. The final blend was 89% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, and the wine tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol. Its opaque blue/purple, nearly black color is followed by aromas of blueberry liqueur interwoven with black raspberries, blackberries, licorice, camphor and forest floor. Among the most complete wines of the vintage, with no hollowness, astringency or herbaceousness, this is a tour de force in a challenging vintage. Some tannins are noticeable, but this 2011 is already approachable and should provide delicious, complex drinking over the next two decades. Bravo! " - Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate, Ratings: 95

 "The 2011 Troplong Mondot (89% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc) is a beautiful wine in this slightly challenging vintage and has a perfumed, sexy, complex style in its black raspberry, truffle, forest floor and new saddle leather aromas and flavors. This medium to full-bodied beauty is nicely balanced, has ripe tannin, and a great finish, all of which make it irresistible today. Enjoy bottles anytime over the coming 15+ years." - Jeb Dunnuck, Jebdunnuck.com, Rating: 94, Drink: 2018-2033

 

More Information
Stock Status Out of Stock
Appellation Saint-Emilion
Vintage 2011
Brand Château Troplong Mondot
Shipping Weight 3.000000

Saint-Émilion is one of the most prestigious wine appellations in the Bordeaux region of France, renowned for its exceptional red wines and rich viticultural history. Located on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, Saint-Émilion is a place of great beauty and a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its remarkable blend of natural and cultural attributes. The Saint-Émilion appellation is characterized by a diverse terroir featuring a mix of limestone, clay, and sandy soils that provide the foundation for its distinctive wines. The unique microclimates and elevations within the appellation contribute to the variety of flavors and styles found in Saint-Émilion wines.

The primary grape varieties used in Saint-Émilion wines are Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot often dominating the blends. These grapes thrive in the region's favorable climate, moderated by the proximity of the Dordogne River and the buffering effects of the limestone plateau.

Saint-Émilion is famous for its unique wine classification system, which divides the vineyards into four tiers: Premier Grand Cru Classé A, Premier Grand Cru Classé B, Grand Cru Classé, and Grand Cru. This classification reflects the quality and prestige of the individual vineyards and châteaux within the appellation, with only a select few achieving the highest ranking of Premier Grand Cru Classé A. Until the re-classification in 2022, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Ausone, Château Angelus, and Château Pavie were the only four members of the Premier Grand Cru Classé A tier. Out of disagreement with the standard-setting governing body, Cheval Blanc and Ausone voluntarily dropped out. Angelus followed suit shortly after. With Pavie remaining the only member, Premier Grand Cru Classé A saw the addition of Château Figeac following a long-expected and well-deserved promotion.

Saint-Émilion wines are known for their finesse, complex aromas, and beautiful balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. While they share some similarities with wines from the neighboring Pomerol appellation, they often have a slightly more structured and tannic character due to the higher proportion of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blends. With age, these wines develop a velvety texture and reveal an array of flavors, including dark fruits, floral notes, and hints of earthiness.

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