Troplong Mondot 2008

2008: A wine of the vintage candidate in 2008, Troplong Mondot's offering was produced from yields of 41 hectoliters per hectare and achieved 14.5% natural alcohol. A classic blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it offers copious quantities of blue and black fruits, a full-bodied opulence, sweet tannin and a fabulous texture as well as finish. Already drinking beautifully, it will be even better in 2-5 years and should last for 20 years. A great effort for the vintage, it couldn't happen to a more deserving proprietor, Christine Valette. Bravo!

Tasted ex-château and single blind in Southwold. I have criticized recent vintages over the alcohol levels, but I have no agenda against what is after all, one of the first properties I ever visited. And the 2008 is turning out to be a little beauty. It has a lovely floral bouquet with vibrant red fruit, cassis and violets that soar from the glass. It displays deftly integrated oak with Asian spices beginning to come through. The palate is full-bodied and tannic, very grippy with spice, black olive and blackberry. There is some fine, earthy Cabernet Franc here and shows good structure on the finish. It deserves a decade in the cellar. Tasted January 2012.

Blackish, purple. Hint of farmyard on the nose. Plummy sweet - very chocolatey and Rollandian. Then rather obvious acidity and rather green tannins on the finish. Tannins very supple. Should deliver pleasure to modernists - eventually.

What a worthy rival to the prodigious 2005! This is another superb success from proprietress Christine Valette, but it is distressing to hear that this property may be up for sale. The inky/blue/purple-colored, formidably concentrated 2008 exhibits aromas of smoke, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, roasted coffee, and spice box. Boasting fabulous fruit and purity, a multilayered texture, full body, and prominent, but sweet, well-integrated tannin, this is a tour de force in winemaking from an outstanding and a perfectionist proprietor. Give it 5-6 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following three decades.

A very dense, almost impenetrable nose with layers of dark, earthy fruit that change in the glass, revealing some intriguing coconut/almond scents from the oak. Very typical in style for the château with its firm robust tannins, good weight of fruit, dense blackberry, boysenberry and smoke-tinged finish. Very good length. Excellent. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Tasted April 2009