Troplong Mondot 2009

Some rawness on the nose. Then lots of sweetness - almost cocoa. Definitely not for classicists. Really quite painful!!

Pure perfection in a glass, the incredible 2009 Troplong Mondot offers off the chart notes of blackcurrants, licorice, truffles and saddle leather that just soar from the glass. This is a big, ripe, incredibly sexy wine that hits the palate with a huge texture, building, ripe tannin, no weight, and a finish that just won't quit. Utterly brilliant stuff, it's slightly more approachable than the 2005, but both of these vintages play in the same style. Drink bottles anytime over the coming two to three decades. Bravo! 2018 - 2048

The fleshy richness of black fruits gives lots of power on the nose and weight of flavour on the palate. The fleshiness is helped by ripe rounded tannins but under all of this lushness there is bright red fruit acidity balancing and giving brightness on the finish. Drink 2020-2040.

The opposite end of the spectrum from Canon but huge personality. Blue-black colour. Rich and concentrated. Spicy, chocolaty, dark fruit aromas. Full-bodied and powerful but not over the top. Tannins quite refined. Drink 2018-2035.

Although this is very ripe and rich with a generous body and a slew of black fruit aromas it’s also elegant and poised. The bitter chocolate character is more restrained than in many modern-style Right Bank wines of this period and there's a lovely balance of lively acidity with fine dry tannins at the complex finish. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

I tasted this wine four separate times, with three tastings extremely consistent, and one tasting showing slightly more noticeable and astringent tannin. Do I think it is going to be as prodigious as the 2005? No, but it is a compelling Troplong Mondot, and probably more approachable than the 2005 has been in its youth. This is a large vineyard, nearly 80 acres in size, and part of it had hail damage in May. They are late-harvesters, the Merlots were picked through October 10 and the Cabernet finished October 20, with very low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare, no doubt due at least in part to the hail damage. Alcohols on lots chosen for the grand vin are very high, between 14.5 and 15.5. The wine is inky purple in color, displaying beautiful creme de cassis, licorice, subtle smoke and graphite notes, enormous body, juicy, viscous texture, good vibrancy, a skycraper-like, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a whopping long finish of 40+ seconds. This is a great wine, probably more hedonistic and voluptuous than the 2005, but ultimately a tiny notch below that virtually perfect Troplong Mondot, which still gets my nod as the best ever made. This wine should evolve for at least 30-40 years. (Tasted four times.) Drink 2010-2050.

Tasted at the Saint Emilion UGC. The nose is far more restrained than usual, but well defined with pure blackberry, black plum and a touch of cedar. The lacks if vigour is a little vexing although a second sample at a negociant showed more "intention" and developed nicely in the glass. The palate is full-bodied with sinewy tannins, firm structure, grainy texture with cedar and graphite infused black fruits. Quite assertive, rather unsettled by the high alcohol and lacking its usual harmony, whilst the tannins have an angularity and astringency on the finish. This is a rather perplexing showing on both occasions I tasted this wine. Tasted March 2010.

Intense aromas of blackberry and blueberry follow through to a full body, with well-integrated tannins and a fruity finish. Offers lots of licorice and spice. There's lovely length to this. Reserved and pretty.