La Mondotte 2018

The 2018 La Mondotte is another incredibly classy wine from proprietor Stefan von Neipperg and comes from a beautiful terroir situated above Pavie Decesse. A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc brought up in 70% new French oak, it offers a seamless display of crème de cassis, crushed violets, and a liquid rock-like minerality. Full-bodied, with massive amounts of fruit, full-bodied richness, and building tannins, it’s an infant and will require 4-6 years of bottle age, but it’s a brilliant Saint-Émilion that will keep for 2-3 decades.

(75 Merlot, 25 Cabernet Franc) | 70% new oak | 14.5% alc | Harvested between 20th September and 5th October | Certified Organic As always, the fruit is densely packed, powerful and wild in this wine and in 2018 it is fiercely tannic, too. Built from sturdy ingredients, this is a muscular wine, but it is possible to see the tender fruit inside its hulking frame. The nose is super-ripe and the fruit is coulis-like with its intensity and while it is an incredibly youthful creation, the balance of all of the constituent elements is there.

The 2018 La Mondotte was picked from 20 September until 5 October at 40hL/ha and matured in 70% new oak. It has an impressive bouquet with pure black cherry and raspberry/cranberry aromas that gain intensity with aeration. It is very delineated, the oak nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, quite plush in style with a caressing, candied finish with traces of marmalade and quince on the aftertaste. This is a superb La Mondotte that will be difficult to resist in its youth. 2021 - 2040

Wow. This is very dense and powerful with linear tannins and vivid acidity that run straight through the center of the wine. It’s full-bodied with great freshness. Loads of blackberry character and a salty-mineral undertone. Extremely long in the finish.