Tasting Notes
Neal Martin 92
The 2001 Troplong Mondot, which is almost entirely Merlot, has a little more amplitude and personality on the nose than the previous vintage, offering a melange of red and black fruit, blood orange and a sprinkling of white pepper. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and crisp acidity. It tightens up in the glass, turning slightly powdery in texture, and delivers dark cherries, sloe and fig with good persistence. Like the 2000, this is quite precocious and forward, but it shows more tension and complexity toward the finish. Still solid after two decades, this should be decanted or left for another 5 -7 years in bottle.
Anticipated maturity: 2023-2043
Stephen Tanzer 89
Deep red. Very ripe nose features dark berries, cocoa powder and brown spices. Rich, fat, sweet and densely packed; really spreads out to cover the palate. Lush flavors of plum and smoke. Ultimately less sweet than the 2003, but wonderfully thick and creamy for the vintage. Finishes with strong but ripe tannins and a slight dryness.
Wine Advocate 94
Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 10-Year On horizontal. This has a dark garnet core with a youthful ruby rim. The nose is rich and generous with raspberry coulis, sloes, fresh fig and just a touch of Hoi Sin sauce. One feels that it is on the tipping point of primal into secondary aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of burnt toast on the entry, very harmonious with a leafy Cabernet Franc component starting to deliver. Nicely balanced with a slight salt tang towards the finish and a peppery aftertaste, this is a Saint Emilion ’01 full of character and charm. Tasted March 2011.
JancisRobinson.com 17
Mid crimson and still youthful-looking at the rim. Very ripe nose, even slightly porty, but on the palate there is enough freshness to keep the wine from being unpleasantly over the top. Some real elegance and lift. Great polish. Not as forced as some later vintages. There’s still lots of punch in this wine.
Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020
