2025, Château Troplong Mondot, SAINT-ÉMILION, 1er Grand Cru Classé

There have been massive and revolutionary changes here, with picking at a much earlier date and all the manipulative extraction techniques abandoned in favour of more traditional winemaking. Aymeric de Gironde (formerly of Pichon Baron & Cos D’Estournel) is to be applauded for his radical restyling of Troplong Mondot into a classic and pure St Emilion.

2025 is 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc

The 2025 Troplong Mondot is one of the wines of the vintage. Exhibiting a deep bouquet of blackberries and plums complemented by floral accents of lilac, iris and subtle spices, it's full-bodied, deep and dense, with a brooding core of fruit girdled by bright acids and sweet but abundant tannins. 98-100 William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

The 2025 Troplong Mondot is raised in 50% new oak, 40% foudres and 10% in one-year-old barrels. It has a very intense bouquet with black cherries, cassis and iris flower scents, and a hint of inkwell. Very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins, plenty of tension and minéralité. Vivacious and yet linear and correct, it delivers plenty of fruit but in a very controlled fashion. You can feel the tongue tingling on the finish. Classy and sophisticated, this will rank as one of the finest Troplong Mondots to date. Drink 2032-2055. 96-98 Neal Martin, Vinous.

Intensity and power, deep cassis and bilberry fruit, very much in character of this unusual, singular site, olive pit and wet stones, drawn out and slow crawl through the palate, rooted to its sense of place and an extremely impressive wine. Aymeric de Gironde director. 2030-2042. 96 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux.