Chateau La Mondotte 2020

JAMES SUCKLING: "Blackberries, blueberries and flowers such as lavender and dark roses on the nose. Dried flowers as well. Feels medium-bodied with seamless tannins that spread across the palate. Savory and agile with a weightless feel. Hints of white pepper and salt. Makes you want to taste it. Better after 2026."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Just about pure perfection, the 2020 La Mondotte comes from a tiny parcel of limestone soils on the upper plateau, not far from Troplong Mondot. Mostly Merlot with a small amount of Cabernet Franc, its deep purple hue is followed by a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, crushed stone, graphite, mulled black cherries, and hints of truffle. Full-bodied, incredibly elegant yet also concentrated and flawlessly balanced, it's as good as anything in the vintage. Give bottles 4-6 years in the cellar, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades."

WEINWISSER: "90 % Merlot, 10 % Cabernet Franc, pH 3.45, 36 hl/ha, Alkohol 14 vol%, 60 % neue Barriques, Lese vom 18. - 26. September. Tiefes Purpur mit schwarzer Mitte und zartem lila Rand. Sehr konzentriertes Bouquet mit schwarzbeerigen Konturen, dunkler Terroirwürze und Brasiltabak. Im zweiten Ansatz Schokopastillen, zartes Veilchenparfüm und Alpenheidelbeere. Am geradlinigen perfekt strukturierten Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, herrlicher Extraktfülle, engmaschigem fokussiertem Tanninkorsett. Im energiegeladenen nicht enden wollenden Finale zeigt der Muskelprotz seine ganze Klasse und endet mit Wildkirsche, reifer Pflaume und tiefschürfender Mineralik! Für Stephan ist die Struktur des Weines heuer deutlich differenzierter als in 2019. "Das Terroir soll sprechen, nicht der Winemaker," meint der Graf kurz und knapp!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Concentrated, graceful, full-bodied, rich and intense, the array of black, red and blue fruits all touched by accents of crushed rocks and stones hit all the right notes in the nose and on the palate. The mid-palate and finish, with their layers of salt-tinted, perfectly ripe fruits, licorice, mocha, and spice go on and on, leaving you with streams of bitter chocolate, plum liqueur and sea-salts that linger for more than 50 seconds! Not much wine is made here. In fact, the production was about 1,200 cases. Drink from 2026-2055."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "I typically have a weakness for Canon-la-Gaffelière, with its high percentage of Cabernet Franc, in the Von Neipperg portfolio. But this year, it's the 2020 La Mondotte that takes center stage, offering up aromas of dark berries, plums, licorice, incense and vine smoke, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and vibrant palate of striking harmony and concentration. It's the most seamless, complete wine I've ever tasted from this brilliant clay-limestone terroir."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Mit feiner Edelholzwürze unterlegte schwarze Waldbeeraromatik, Brombeeren, reife Kirschen, zart floraler Touch, kandierte Orangenzestzen unterlegt. Saftig, frische rote Fruchtnuancen, ein Hauch von Cassis und schwarze Kirschen, frisch strukturiert, feine Tannine, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, wirkt erstaunlich leichtfüßig, reife Kirschfrucht auch im Nachhall, ein delikater Speisenbegleiter."

WINE SPECTATOR: " Shows the warmth of the vintage with a dark plum, boysenberry and black currant core but manages it well, with sleek, well-embedded chalky minerality providing a serious spine, while sweet tobacco, alder and loam accents peek in on the fruit throughout. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2030 through 2040. 1,500 cases made, 140 cases imported."

DECANTER: "Ruby and violet-laced colour, glass-staining berry fruit, clear limestone influence, sappy and a little austere, slate and juice. Muscular in its colour and aromatics on the attack, then it contracts halfway through the palate and the grippy tannins come into play. A yield of 36hl/ha. Good stuff."