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Troplong Mondot 2003

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Sauvignon

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Troplong Mondot

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Tasting Notes

Troplong Mondot's 2003 is a brilliant success in this vintage, largely because of the limestone soils and incredibly low yields. There are nearly 70 acres of vines in production, yields were tiny, and the harvest was early. Nevertheless, there is an opulence and youthfulness in this wine that suggest it has at least a decade of life left. A luxurious effort with high glycerin, loads of blueberry, mulberry, black currant, licorice and charcoal ember-like notes, full body, low acidity and sweet tannin, this beauty is close to full maturity and can be drunk now as well as over the next decade. Drink 2014-2024

94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (214), August 2014

A solid wine, with lots of smoky, berry and meaty character. Full bodied with velvety tannins.

89/91
James Suckling, Wine Spectator (April 04), April 2004
16
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (April 04), April 2004
Read more tasting notes...

This superb estate, run with impeccable attention to detail by Christine Valette, has produced a formidable, backward wine that will require considerable cellaring. When St.-Emilion’s new classification is announced in several months, it will be a crime if Troplong is not promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classe status. Even by Bordeaux standards this is a weighty vin du garde, with huge density, a backward, masculine style, an inky dark ruby/purple hue, and subtle notions of white chocolate, espresso roast, plums, blackberries, and currants. Full-bodied, powerful, and “closed for business” at present, it exhibits beautiful purity, stunning depth, and a long, persistent finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025+.

92+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006

Maybe I should buy more Troplong.....that note resembles some of comments about right bank legends 1947 Petrus and Cheval Blanc circa early 50s.....sweetness in young Bordeaux is a common characteristic of vintages of superb ripeness...1982 and 1990 for example.....and today the 1990 :Smile: Troplong is a profound wine with plently of life in front of it....when it was 6 months old it was surprisingly flabby and diffuse...and yes...very sweet....from ripe fruit...nor residual sugar.

Robert Parker, Mark Squires' Bulletin Board, December 2005

Having exploded in quality, the 2003 is now much more massive, concentrated, and powerful than it was a year ago. Now one of the top right bank wines of the vintage, it exhibits a dense purple color as well as a bold, dramatic fragrance of melted chocolate, espresso roast, smoke, plums, blackberries, and black currants. Full-bodied and rich, with low acidity, high tannin, loads of glycerin, and massive, multilayered flavors, this brilliant effort (tasted on three separate occasions) reminded me of the prodigious 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.

93/95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (158), April 2005

Just beginning to strut its stuff, this is an outstanding offering from proprietor Christine Valette. Deep ruby-colored with purple nuances, it displays an evolved, sweet nose of blackberries, currants, melted licorice, flowers, and earth. Medium-bodied, pure, and ripe, with low acidity, noticeable tannin, and a plump, fleshy finish, this seductive, round 2003 will be accessible early, and drink well for 12-15 years. While not as spectacular as the 2001, 2000, or 1998, it is a very successful effort. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.

90/92+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (152), April 2004
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.