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La Mondotte 2017

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

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.

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Label

Tasting Notes

Extremely complex on the nose with blackberries, chili spice, chocolate and fresh walnuts. Full-bodied, tight and very minerally and racy. Steely tannins. Fresh and vivid. Seamless, soft tannins give this form and beauty. Fresh and powerful. Profound. Drink in 2022.

97
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (June 2019), January 2020

La Mondotte 2017 has a deep garnet color. It waltzes out with ready-to-go scents of stewed red and black plums, blackberry preserves, and dried rose, plus hints of cinnamon stick, charcoal, and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and refreshing with lovely acidity and a perfumed, spicy finish.

96
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, December 2022

There was no frost damage here and while the yields are very low it shows no stress at all. The fruit is dense, dark and foresty and there is superb power here, albeit very carefully controlled, and the weight and length are superb. Very much on the dark-fruited side of the fence, this is a rich and layered wine but it is only medium-weight and so there is a lot of vibrancy and activity on the palate as it romances the taste buds while refreshing them at the same time.

18+
Matthew Jukes, Matthew Jukes' Blog, April 2018
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Incredibly complete for the vintage, this cascades with its character of dark chocolate, blackberry coulis and Chinese spices. It’s so very beguiling on the palate with rich yet in-tune black fruit and complemented by regal, surrounding tannins. Bright acid carries this through to a long finish.

96/97
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2018

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 La Mondotte explodes with beguiling scents of wild blueberries, black raspberries and warm plums plus nuances of lilacs, tilled soil, fallen leaves and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling, crunchy blue and black fruits with a wonderfully plush texture and loads of freshness, finishing long and savory. Drink: 2024 - 2053

96
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020), March 2020

There was no frost here. Composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 La Mondotte simply sings of gorgeous ripe blackberries, mulberries and black raspberries with touches of sandalwood, lavender, licorice and rose hips plus wafts of garrigue and exotic spices. The palate is medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm, very silky tannins and layer upon layer of black fruits and spices, finishing very long and beautifully perfumed.

96/98+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (236), April 2018
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.