Chateau Troplong Mondot 1996

Deep garnet with ruby and violet reflections. Crazy, Port-like Bouquet, stunning in its intensity and aromas. On the Palate a mouthful of Merlot, lots of juice, magnificent interplay between red and blue berries, Dominican tobacco, in the finish gently dry in the tannins.

Plenty of crushed berry and spice on the nose. Full-bodied, with full, slightly drying tannins, but good berry and chocolate flavors on the finish. Perhaps slightly overwooded. Best after 2001.

97: Barrel sample (18/20): Wild, concentrated bouquet; with its amarena touch, it recalls a very great Barbera. Full, concentrated on the palate, lots of bourbon (whisky), vanilla pods, ripe berry notes. But the palate is dominated by tannin, tannin and more tannin. A captivating, powerhouse Troplong, so massive that it would have to be penalised because the astringency is currently very dominant. Tasted three times so far. Because it shows these hard, dominant tannins, I now rate it at 17/20. If it manages to round out these tannins, it will become one of the best 1996s from St. Emilion — around 2005. 99: Deep purple. Sweet, lavish amarena bouquet, with a coconut note (Bounty) behind. Very full-bodied on the palate, lots of concentration, red-berry character, almost a certain Barbera affinity; the tannins still seem a bit hard and angular for a St. Emilion, but they show impressive potential. 17/20 2003–2010

A fruity, deep, closed bouquet with blackcurrant and toasted aromas. Dense, closed, powerful palate with plenty of tannins and good fruit. Very long, fruity finish. 18/20 2008 - 2020

Logo on the cork: L Dark colour, slightly evolved. Fruity nose with caramel notes. Smooth on the palate, with fruit flavours and rounded tannins. The finish is a touch firm, but tasty.