Chateau Troplong Mondot is one of the hottest properties on the right bank. It is a leading St. Emilion, sited amongst the finest terroir in the village, occupying prime position on the St. Emilion plateau, where elevation and slope reach over 100 metres, the highest point in the St. Emilion Appellation. The vineyards consist of layers of clay and boasts sedimentary fragments of limestone and flint. With this terroir it is no surprise it became a darling in all markets famed for its rich and impressive style. It reached its apex in the 1990s and then 2000s when the owner Christine Valette first hired Michel Rolland and then Jean-Philippe Fort to help guide the estate through the noughties which saw a perfect 100 point score from Robert Parker in 2005. In 2014 Christine Valette sadly passed away, leading to the acquisition by SCOR, the French Insurance company at a record price per hectare. They brought in Aymeric de Gironde formerly of Pichon Baron and Cos d’Estournel and Thomas Duclot as consultant, a man who is largely behind the Chateau Canon renaissance. They immediately started to build new cellars revolutionising the Chateau. Further changes have been made in the wine, they are now picking much earlier, extraction is minimised and new oak dialled right back. It is a style to love, for the modernity, freshness, elegance and beautiful fruit purity. The change was instantly met by adoration from all markets and the 2017 and 2018 became roaring success.
The 2019 is their best since 2010, surpassing 2015 and 2016. It has been awarded 95-97 points from Neal Martin, who says ‘just a wine you are going to want to drink.’ Lisa Perrotti-Brown has awarded it 96-98 points asserting ‘This is a far cry from the old-school style of Troplong Mondot from a few years back, and it is incredibly impressive.’ Finally, Antonio Galloni as awarded it 96-98 points, making it one of the right bank wines of the vintage from all major critics, surpassing the 2016 which trades at £1,175 and the 2009 which trades at £975. Though stylistically diverse to the 2009 and 2010, it is their superior in Martin’s eyes and both trade above £1,200. The price of the 2019 today is £762 per case of 12, or £381 per case of six, a 17% discount to last year’s release price. This is a significant discount to similar scoring vintages, and one would expect this brilliant Troplong Mondot to trade up 20% to the price of the 2018 and towards the 2015 and 2016, which trade at a 30% premium. Troplong Mondot is a powerhouse in renaissance and this is their finest wine of the decade, we recommend it highly.
| Troplong Mondot | NM | WA | Release | Price | POP |
| 2019 | 95-97 | 96-98 | £762 | £762 | 45 |
| 2018 | 94-96 | 93-95+ | £918 | £918 | 66 |
| 2017 | 92 | 95 | £864 | £850 | 53 |
| 2016 | 93 | 95+ | £1,200 | £1,175 | 81 |
| 2015 | 93 | 96 | £880 | £975 | 61 |
| 2014 | 94 | 94 | £590 | £680 | 49 |
| 2013 | n/a | 92-94 | £527 | £600 | 46 |
| 2012 | n/a | 96 | £595 | £650 | 41 |
| 2011 | n/a | 95 | £600 | £775 | 52 |
| 2010 | 94? | 99 | £1,140 | £1,275 | 67 |
| 2009 | 90 | 99 | £1,050 | £1,250 | 66 |
| 2008 | n/a | 96 | £470 | £800 | 50 |
| 2007 | n/a | 92 | £430 | £630 | 53 |
| 2006 | n/a | 93 | £650 | £800 | 62 |
| 2005 | n/a | 100 | £840 | £1,900 | 95 |
Troplong Mondot is found adjacent to Pavie on the slopes of the village of St Emilion and perennially make a wine equal in quality, but at a fraction of the price. Troplong Mondot produces only 7,000 cases a year and sells out very quickly on release. The blend in 2019 is 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc.