“One of the Right Bank’s finest.” – Wine Advocate

You’ve got to be quick with this one.

It’s not every day that we see a 100-pointer cult Bordeaux under $100. Add a couple of 98+s to it, too, for good measure.

They say wine is no longer one of the best investment tools; obviously, there are exceptions to that. If it comes from one of Right Bank’s top rising stars, a crown jewel of Saint-Émilion, you can make a pretty safe bet it won’t go down in value.

Wine Advocate explains, “It’s hard to think of any estate in contemporary Bordeaux that has witnessed a revolution more profound than that effected by Aymeric de Gironde at Troplong Mondot since his arrival here just after the 2017 harvest. The Château itself sits at the peak of a dome of clay (known to geologists as molasses de l’Agenais) some 11-12 meters thick that has never been eroded away, and it’s the vines that grow here that represent the heart of Troplong Mondot. These clays were compacted, so one of de Gironde’s first initiatives was to work to undo that, ploughing by horse and employing cover crops. But Troplong’s vineyards aren’t limited to this dome: they encompass a range of altitudes from 40 to 110 meters above sea level, ranging onto the plateau toward the town of Saint-Émilion and almost to its edge to the south, obligating a broad window of harvesting dates, with greater attention paid to avoiding over-ripeness. Other evolutions have occurred in the winery and cellar: malolactic fermentation now completes in tank instead of in barrel; and the percentage of new oak is much reduced and, more importantly, less impactful in profile. All of which has brought new aromatic range and textural finesse and, above all, better balance.”

All that’s left to say is to buy what you can, as this will be gone like Aladdin’s genie unless you put those wishes in NOW.

Oh, and can you tell 98+ and 100 points apart easily? We could not, in this case, see for yourselves…

The countdown has started!

100 Points – Decanter “A sensational Troplong. Vibrant and vivid, this makes you smile from the first smell: milk chocolate, floral notes of roses and lavender, wet stones, liquorice, cinnamon and ripe bramble fruits. Round and thrilling on the palate, tannins are abundant with a chalky blueberry coolness while a salty tang settles around the mouth. Lovely precision and purity of fruit; you feel the sharp definition - still linear which makes it less immediately charming than the 2019 but giving undeniable complexity. Deep but not heady, this remains pure and detailed, with a leanness from the terroir really setting this apart. After a few minutes, the glamour starts to appear giving a salivating, succulent and moreish aspect to the finish. An absolute beauty. Drink 2028-2047.”

98+ Points – Wine Advocate “2020 was a great vintage to continue the upward trajectory and unveiling of the new expression of this very special site at Troplong Mondot - and what an exhilarating ride this is! The 2020 Troplong Mondot may prove to be even better than the brilliant 2019, and it is one of the Right Bank’s finest wines in this vintage. Unwinding in the glass with deep aromas of mulberries, blackberries and red cherries mingled with hints of rose petal, licorice and exotic spices, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a satiny attack that segues into a vibrant, polished mid-palate, concluding with a long, resonant finish. Having seen only 65% new oak and with malolactic fermentation completed in tank rather than in barrel, it’s remarkably pure and seamless. With the 2020 vintage, this estate’s stylistic redemption appears to be complete. Drink 2027-2060.”

98+ Points – The Wine Independent “A blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Troplong Mondot is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a swirl or two to release a profound nose of plum preserves, juicy blueberries, and chocolate-covered cherries, giving way to hints of violets, black truffles, fertile loam, and tar, with a waft of licorice. The full-bodied palate shimmers with energy, delivering tightly wound layers of black fruits, floral notes and mineral layers, framed by very fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and minerally. So very fresh and bright - it needs time, but is already a temptress. Drink 2028-2060.”