Troplong Mondot 1996

I am pleased with the way this wine has turned out. The ferocious tannin has been slightly tamed now that the wine is in bottle. Still a backward style of Troplong-Mondot, it will require 6-7 years of cellaring. The wine exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, and a powerful nose of licorice, black currants, and spicy new oak. There is sweet fruit on the attack and medium body, but the firm tannin gives the wine grip and delineation, as well as a certain austerity. This wine does possess the requisite depth to support its tannic clout, but patience is required. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2019

This wine will offers plenty of promise, but also raises numerous questions about its overall balance. Although the wine's blue/black color, high class aromatics of black fruits, toasty new oak, licorice, and minerals are outstanding, the excruciatingly severe level of tannin is worrisome. This is a medium-bodied, concentrated, but unevolved, backward claret. Will the tannin melt away and make this vintage of Troplong-Mondot less austere than it appears to be ?