| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This super-cuvée is made by the Canon La Gaffelière team from 4.5 hectares of 60 year old vines - 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. The tiny vineyard is situated near to Troplong Mondot and Tertre Roteboeuf. It burst onto the scene at the height of the garage wine boom with a monster 1996. Annual production is usually less than 1000 cases.
Not far off the magical 2015, the 2016 La Mondotte comes from a tiny vineyard of clay and limestone soil located next to Pavie Decesse. A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, this behemoth boasts a deep purple color as well as a brilliant array of crème de cassis, blackcurrants, crushed rocks, and graphite. Full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, with liquid minerality emerging with time in the glass, this legendary Saint-Emilion in the making needs 5-7 years of bottle age and will keep for 3-4 decades. Drink 2024-2064.
There’s a vibrance and brilliance that gives this wine focus and energy. Medium body, ultra-fine tannins and a long and beautiful finish. Very fine.
La Mondotte 2016 is deep garnet-colored. It slowly unfurls to reveal opulent scents of sandalwood, kirsch, blackberry preserves, and chocolate box, with hints of Sichuan pepper and tree bark. Medium-bodied the palate is chewy and lively with dried berry and floral layers, finishing earthy.
Big fat blowsy the nose has rich fruit the start of the palate is fleshy but behind the sweetness the tannins are firm drying the back palate tight the finish firm dry and lacking length. It is lacks balance. 2025-37
Some of the Merlot vines used to make this famous organic red are more than 100 years’ old and it shows in the density and concentration of the wine. Very hard to taste young, it’s a monumental, powerful, richly upholstered blend with layers of firm tannin, stylish coffee bean oak and balancing acidity. 2026-38
The 2016 La Mondotte is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc this year, picked between 29 September and 15 October and matured in 70% new oak. The alcohol level is around 14.5%. It has a lucid purple hue in the glass. The bouquet is very perfumed, very pure with luscious red cherries, blueberry and a hint of sloes, the new oak discrete and allowing the terroir to shine through perhaps more than the 2015 last year. The palate is silky smooth on the entry, but underneath the bonnet, there is considerable tannic backbone that certainly can be felt more towards the finish that exerts a light grip. In a strange way, it reminds me a little of Château Canon! Give this 4-5 years once in bottle. Drink Date 2022 - 2050
