Chateau Troplong Mondot2009
  RED WINE
  
  
          
        
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          Producer
          Chateau Troplong Mondot
        
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          Blend
            
              4% Cabernet Sauvignon
 10% Cabernet Franc
 86% Merlot
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          Country
          France
        
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          Region
          Bordeaux
        
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          Appellation
          Saint-Emilion
        
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          UPC
          0 15643 70174 0
        
 
 
  
    
      Reviews
    
          
        
          Wine Advocate 99
        
        
          It boasts an inky/purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of mocha, chocolate, blackberry and cassis fruit, an unctuous texture, a full-bodied, viscous mouthfeel and a skyscraper-like, multilayered finish. This spectacular wine is nearly overwhelming in its richness, thickness and intensity. Once all its baby fat falls away, the terroir characteristics and additional nuances will emerge. This blockbuster, fabulous Troplong Mondot will benefit from 10-15 years of cellaring and keep for three decades or more. It is not shy either, bouncing over the palate with 15.5% natural alcohol.        
        
          by RP, Wine Advocate          , 2012        
       
          
        
          Wine Spectator 92
        
        
          Very dark, with strong pastis-soaked blackberry and roasted plum notes leading the way, with layers of sweet spice, mocha and tobacco filling in on the finish. Rather lush and perhaps a touch too roasted in style for some folks, with enough just grip to keep it going. Best from 2013 through 2024. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.        
        
          by JM, Wine Spectator          , 2012        
       
       
  
    
      Technical Details
    
    
          
        
          Vinification        
        This is carried out in small, temperature controlled stainless steel vats. Traditional vinification sometimes with cold pre-fermentation maceration. Pumping over, racking and return with 'pigeage'. 21 to 35 days of vatting with or without yeasting. The free-run wine goes 100 % into new barrels and will stay there for 12 to 24 months. Racking is through the small bunghole from barrel to barrel. After ageing the final blending is carried out just before bottling.      
          
        
          Vineyard Management        
        Traditional viticulture combined with an environmentally-friendly approach (no weedkillers, chemical fertilizers or pesticides). Ploughing, Cordeau bordelaise pruning (leaving two branches). De-budding in the spring. De-leafing in July then crop thinning to enhance optimal ripening of the grapes. Hand-picking with harvesting dates based on 3 criteria: ripeness checks, tasting of berries and the estate’s different terroirs.      
          
        
          The 2009 Growing Season        
        The 2009 growing season was ideal in terms of weather conditions. Bud-break was late - from March 23rd on. The flowering was then early, beginning on May 25th. Grape-colour change occurred from July 27th, 
which is a normal to early date compared with the last five years. In May, a hailstorm caused damage in some of the estate’s plots. Water deficit stress, which is very favourable to the vine since it stops the vine shooting and encourages the grapes to ripen and therefore concentrate, arrived after 
grape-colour change and increased during the month of August, during a summer that was very hot and dry but with cool nights. The months of September and October brought a magnificent hot and dry Indian 
summer. The harvest took place from October 2nd to 10th for the Merlot and on October 20th for the two Cabernets, in fabulous weather. The skins were thick and rich in ripe phenolic compounds. The concentration in sugar and the phenolic richness are comparable, perhaps even superior, to the 2005 vintage. The crop was in perfect condition and health. All the necessary parts were in place to make a vintage of outstanding quality and elegance.