Château La Mondotte 2024

Bright ruby red; floral on the nose, with depth and complexity; violets, cool fireplace, marzipan, dark chocolate and sage blossoms over red berries; on the palate straight, juicy and immensely fresh, with ripe tannins and crisp fruit, gliding weightlessly, with drive and balance, finishing long on redcurrants and a finely spiced, bittersweet note.

Beautifully lifted raspberry and strawberry fruit on the nose, expressive, open and alive. Clarity and purity. Linear and straight, this has tension at the fore driving the cool and fresh blue fruit and liquorice from start to finish. I love the fun, joyous aspect to the fruit - it's clean, detailed and so finessed. Some citrus-edged acidity showing the super low 3.35pH. Ageing 30% new oak barrels. A yield of 40hl/ha.

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 40 hl/ha. Certified organic. Cask sample. Bright crimson hue. Red fruit with a chalky, terroir nuance. Tannins ripe and fine but there’s quite a bit of tension. Fresh and digestible but could do with a little more fruit. Dry finish. (JL)

Black with red currants and cherries, accented by flowers, licorice, truffle, and ocean breezes, forms the aromatic profile. The palate quickly focuses on its dark pit fruit profile, complemented by a salty, minty freshness. There is energy and lift that balances the fruit in the lingering, fresh finish. The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc, 13% ABV. The harvest took place September 23 - October 5. 2029-2047. 93-95 Pts

A rich, deep and sophisticated bouquet of wild black fruits. The palate is smooth and flamboyant, with a tangy freshness that energizes the whole. Very harmonious, the wine caresses the palate.

The bouquet immediately reveals the identity of La Mondotte, centred on the ripeness of the black berries and the ageing, yet in a register that highlights precision. The fusion between notes of ripe (and therefore hushed) blackberries and hints of violet is perfect. The result is freshness and charm. On the palate, the wine surprises with the saline touch of its attack. It paves the way for a compact wine driven by subtle, velvety tannins and an incisive structure that favours the fresh, mouth-watering sides of the finish. An airy La Mondotte, soaring above the vintage with serenity and dignity!

Inky colour, this is a lovely La Mondotte, gunsmoke reduction, cherry pit, raspberry, cloves, white pepper, sage, oyster shell. Harvest 23 September to 5 October. 40 hl/ha yield, 30% new oak. Cold soak for four days, 8-10 degrees.