CHÂTEAU TROPLONG MONDOT
2013 Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
The 2013 primeur campaign has been overshadowed by the death, at only 57, of Troplong's 'chatelaine', Christine Valette-Pariente who did so much to push this property to the extraordinary heights since she took over in 1981. This, sadly, is not one of the more memorable ones. It has the trademark deep, dark colour and density, but it is very, very dry, and showing oak to the fore. It is arguable that the fruit does stay to the end, but at the moment it is hard to imagine this giving much pleasure. 2019-2026 Rating: 87-88 L&S (Apr 2014)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The nose is seductive: lush and chocolatey, with powerful black cherry and assertive oak. Rich and velvety, this certainly as admirable concentration, good structure and a lively finish. It misses greatness by being a touch hollow and lacking some persistence. Drinking range: 2018 - 2025 Rating: 92 Stephen Brook, Decanter.com (Oct 2016)
Full-bodied and atypically rich and concentrated for a 2013, it boasts beautiful blueberry and creme de cassis fruit as well as underlying chalky minerality, and good richness and concentration. It is a noteworthy homage to Christine Vallete’s brilliant efforts at Troplong Mondot, which resulted in the elevation of this estate in the 2012 St.-Emilion classification. It can be enjoyed over the next 10-15 years. It has been less than six months since the irrepressible and brilliant Christine Vallette passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. I must confess that tasting at Troplong Mondot was a powerful emotional experience. However, the 2013 is clearly one of the stars of the vintage. 2014-2029 Rating: 92-94 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Aug 2014)
Good full ruby. Rather full-blown aromas of raspberry, truffle and underbrush are accompanied by strong notes of menthol and charred oak. Sweet, broad and fresh, this Saint-Emilion boasts a fat middle and juicy dark berry flavors but the building tannins show a slightly dry edge. Rating: 86-89 Ian d'Agata - Stephen Tanzer website (May 2014)
Although the nose is firm the palate starts with sweet fruit. The mid palate is lighter with red fruited freshness yet it is sweeter at the back with depth of fruit on the finish. 2017-27. Rating: 89-92 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (May 2014)
True to the Troplong Mondot style, even in a lighter vintage, this has masses of colour, smoky oak and tannin, with dense, concentrated fruit flavours, mocha oak and bags of aroma. It’s low on finesse, but high on flavour. Mercifully lower in alcohol than usual. 2018-26 Rating: 92 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (May 2014)
A stunning nose dominated by fruit and not oak! The palate is tighter and more strictly controlled by the tannins but the mid-palate is sublime. Slimmer than usual, this is a very sexy wine with dark chocolate notes and very good layers of plum and oak. Rating: 17.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Apr 2014)
Lots of sweet spice scent – clearly expensive oak. Dry, savoury palate with a fine-grained tannic texture. Persistent length. Rich without being overwrought. The fruit stands up to the oak and the structure too. Nicely done. (RH) Drink 2016-2024. Rating: 16.5 Richard Hemming MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2014)
Ripe, modern, red berry nose. Fresh and supple on attack then tight, firm finish. No compromises, shows extraction but clean and long. Drink: 2020-2030. Rating: 16.75 James Lawther MW, decanter.com (Apr 2014)
The core of plum and raspberry fruit mingles with a note of red licorice on the finish. Fresh acidity provides balance throughout. Solid. Rating: 88–91 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2014)
Of course, it is never easy to appraise the new wine of a proprietor recently deceased, but the late Christine Valette would have been proud of this Troplong Mondot. The Grand Vin is a blend of 90% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, alcohol levels coming in around the 13 degree mark. It has a pretty bouquet with dark cherries and raspberry fruit - fine precision here and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with fine structure and bead of acidity. The harmony is palpable here, with hints of dried herbs and cedar comes through on the assured finish. This is a successful and considered wine from Troplong Mondot and a testament to Christine Valette. Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2014)
Château Troplong Mondot
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those of the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.
Ordering
Prices are per case as listed 'in bond London'.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment from you to buy the wines you order on release, subject to the price being below the upper price of the estimated band on our website. You may also set your own upper price limit, lower or higher than ours. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability. Providing this firm commitment to us effectively gives you priority.
Wines listed on the website (after any pre-orders and allocations have been fulfilled) can be ordered in the usual way via the website order form or by email or telephone 020 7221 1982, always subject to stock remaining.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date, apart from pre-orders which are binding if the release price is below the top estimate or other price you have set.
Invoices are raised at the In Bond price, excluding any duty and VAT which will become payable at the prevailing rates on arrival of the wine if required duty paid.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or credit transfer. We reserve the right to charge 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1000, orders below this total will be charged £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery for 2016 Bordeaux primeurs will probably be completed by October 2019, but we make no guarantee as to specific delivery times, and some of the Sauternes may be later.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes) for immediate payment. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option, but do please note that confirmed orders are still binding as above even if the final invoice has not been issued.
When the wine is shipped, unless previously specified we will assume that delivery is to be to bonded storage with Elephant Storage, but in any case, we will contact you requesting any alternative instructions. If you have another bonded delivery address you would like the wine to go to, please tell us at the time of ordering. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue invoices at the rates prevailing at the time for the excise duty (currently £25.98 per case) and the VAT (currently at 20%) on the total of the wine cost and the duty.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the bottle size you want. Even if a wine is only listed in one size, you can order any bottle or case size you want if the property supplies it, but you must order the case/bottle size you require and check that the correct size has been invoiced.
Additional charges are as follows:-
- +£15 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£15 per case of 6 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£35 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£45 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.