Château Troplong Mondot 2023

Deep, pure, complex; blackberry, cherry, menthol, cool stone, violet. Straight on the palate, no hint of breadth, highly elegant, with great drive, freshness and verve, excellent tannins, a long, red-fruited, saline finish with notes of redcurrant and blood orange. The estate’s new style is appealing and perfectly expresses the outstanding terroir.

Violet and blackcurrant notes on the nose with black chocolate and liquorice, this smells so pristine yet floral and inviting. Density but smoothness, so much going on in the mouth. Just gorgeous, so balanced, so juicy but with a sweet edge. Sublime, totally approachable now - seamless, round and deep but with no heaviness. An explosion of fruit and flavour and acidity with excellent tannins. A great wine in the making. Line of chalkiness that finishes on a lifted note that is so satisfying, almost cool, mineral and salty with a graphite grip.

84% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc. 53 hl/ha. Cask sample. Complex nose with a stony-mineral edge. Smooth and supple on attack, the tannins silky and plentiful. Fruit fairly dense. Refreshing saline finish. (JL)

Flowers coalesce with its blend of red and black fruits, Indian spices, tobacco leaf, and herbs. The palate shows vibrant red fruits, greenery, crushed stones, and spice, finishing with creamy tannins, vibrancy, and refinement. This is a slightly discreet vintage, which will benefit from a few additional years of bottle aging. The wine blends 84% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2029-2055.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Fresh nuances of currants, some herbal savouriness, black cherries, notes of liquorice, some nougat and candied orange zest, a floral touch. Deep and complex, juicy, red forest berries, good freshness, firm but silky tannins, mineral and salty on the finish, balanced, fine spice on the echo. Already accessible, good length, certain ageing potential, a food wine with finesse.

Inky plum, vibrant violet edges, showing the intensity that is signature to Troplong, combining a velvety texture with a lightness of touch, with tomato leaf and peony aromatics. Fresh blueberry and blackberry fruits with plenty of grilled spices and sandalwood oak, effortlessly integrated even at this early stage. High Cabernet Franc in the blend, and three tanks fermented with stems (which they consider as an alternative to pressing). 22% aged in large foudres, and 18% in one-year-old barrels, the remaining 60% in new oak.

Score: 94–96. A dark, contemplative bouquet of black fruits, shifting on first sniff. On the palate, a core of ultra-juicy, sweet-bitter fruit gradually gains breadth, culminating in a controlled burst of deep red fruit and sappy flowers, with a hint of pepper and spice and a superb cashmere texture. A fresh, accomplished, self-assured wine.

From the outset, the wine underscores its ambitions of subtlety, depth and freshness. At the same time—and this is a feature found in many 2023s—ripeness is also highlighted; balance is already evident in the opening aromatic prelude. One can only look forward to what follows! Carried by an airy texture and compact tannins, the wine stands out for its ability to shine with both vigor and charm, while showing character, finesse and persistence. It is harmonious, precise and mouthwatering, with a structuring freshness, powerful tannins and a soothing, mellow touch.

95-97. Barrel Sample. The rich smoky aroma leads to a powerful wine that is dense with tannins and solid black fruits. It's an impressive wine from the highest point in Saint-Émilion. The wine is firm while also having acidity and a final crispness that brings freshness.

A fresh style, with damson plum and morello cherry coulis notes laced with subtle, chalky minerality, plus savory and cedar nuances. There are dried rose petal echoes on the finish. Shows lovely purity. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2037. 9,000 cases made, 950 cases imported.

Bottled in late June 2025, the 2023 Troplong Mondot unwinds in the glass with notes of dark berries, cherries, rich spices, baking chocolate and violets. Medium- to full-bodied, supple and seamless, it's dense, fleshy and suave, with sweet tannins and lively animating acids. A blend of 84% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 has turned out beautifully.