Chateau Troplong Mondot 2012

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2012 is another truly great wine from Troplong Mondot. It’s always sentimental to taste this wine, realizing that proprietress Christine Valette (the larger-than-life heart and soul behind this estate) has passed away. She was one of the bright, shining stars of Bordeaux. Nevertheless, her legacy is certainly well-established, and the quality of this wine is beyond reproach. Inky bluish purple, its great notes of cassis, blackberry, licorice are followed by a full-bodied, opulently textured wine with stunning concentration, purity and overall balance. It should drink well for 20-25 years and turn out to be one of the great superstars of 2012. Their 63-acre vineyard was cropped at 31 hectoliters per hectare, producing a final blend of 90% Merlot and 10 Cabernet Sauvignon that achieved 14.2% alcohol."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is concentrated and impressive for the vintage with beautiful ripe fruit, minerals, chocolate and light-coffee character. Full body, polished tannins and a long finish. Better in 2018."

WEINWISSER: "Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Extrem süs ses Bouquet, Vanille, Pflaumen, Amarenakirschen, gekochte Walderdbeeren, Bounty (Schoko-Kokos), Cassis und ganz reifer Holunder. Also ein facettenreicher, fast kompottiger Fruchtcocktail. Logischerweise setzt sich diese enorme Süs se in malziger bis kompottiger Form im Gaumen fort. Die Adstringenz zeigt sich vor allem auf der Zunge. Im Innern kernig, pikant, trockene, sandige Tannine, eine wahnsinnige, nicht ganz zum Jahrgang passende Konzentration zeigend, verlangt nach Reife und sehnt sich nach Charme, hatte sicherlich einen sehr langen Nachklang. Ob er aber so genial wird, ist noch fraglich. Hohe Wertung – aber definitiv nicht mein Stil!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: 94 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Already starting to show truffle, tobacco, licorice and chocolate character, the wine is lively, fresh, and filled with ripe fruits. Still quite young, this is the best priced vintage on the market for Troplong Mondot today. If you are seeking a bottle to try, this is the vintage to seek out."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Offers a solid, if slightly chunky, feel, with ganache and charcoal notes coating the core of dark currant preserves, fig paste and warmed plum fruit. Shows lots of smoldering tobacco accents on the finish. Pretty grippy for the vintage, but this is headed in a promising direction. Cellar for maximum effect. Best from 2018 through 2025. 6,250 cases made."