Mondot Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2019

Mondot is the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru from Château Troplong Mondot, produced from vineyards acquired on the limestone plateau and given a separate identity from the estate’s famous Grand Vin. The 2019 was a significant vintage for the wine, as all the fruit came from limestone terroir for the first time, giving the wine a particularly clear mineral character. It is made entirely from Merlot, with the high limestone content helping retain freshness and tension alongside the variety’s naturally generous fruit. The 2019 growing season was warm and sunny but benefited from rain at key points, allowing the Merlot to reach full ripeness without losing its acidity. The result is a particularly pure and balanced expression of Saint-Émilion.

The wine combines ripe red and dark fruit with the distinctly stony character of its limestone soils. Fresh cherry, blackberry, blueberry and plum are accompanied by crushed stone, graphite, violet and subtle spice. The palate is supple and juicy rather than heavy, with polished tannins and a fresh mineral lift running through the generous Merlot fruit. Around 60% of the wine was matured in barrel, with the remainder kept in stainless steel, helping preserve its brightness and avoiding excessive oak influence. At seven years old, the 2019 is drinking very well now, with the youthful fruit beginning to develop more savoury and earthy complexity. It should remain enjoyable through the early 2030s, particularly with roast beef, duck, lamb, mushroom dishes or mature cheeses.