Château Troplong Mondot 2004

Tasting Notes and Characteristics for Château Troplong Mondot 2004

Tasting

Color
This red wine from France reveals a deep garnet hue, subtly nuanced with brick reflections that bear witness to its evolution.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet stands out with pronounced notes of minty chocolate, kirsch, and plum jam. With aeration, tertiary and mineral notes emerge, evoking truffle, coffee, pencil lead, and undergrowth.

Palate
The palate offers lovely freshness carried by flavors of cherries and red and black plums. The whole is supple and well-integrated, supported by firm yet grainy tannins that provide a solid backbone. Refreshing acidity balances this structured profile, leading to a long, mineral, and vibrant finish, which closes on a delicate touch of tobacco.

Food and Wine Pairing

This cuvée pairs beautifully with full-flavored meats such as beef or venison. It will perfectly complement earthy dishes featuring mushrooms or truffles, beef bourguignon-style preparations, or rich meats served with coffee, chocolate, spice, or black cherry sauces.

Service and Storage

Château Troplong Mondot 2004 is fully developed and ready to be enjoyed now, while still possessing the structure needed to continue evolving in the cellar until around 2035.

Other Characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 14%, reflecting moderate ripeness and a balanced profile for its vintage.

The Elegance and Structure of a Saint-Émilion Wine

The Estate

The winemaking history of Château Troplong Mondot began around 1700, although its main building was erected in 1745. Situated on the highest point of its appellation, this landmark estate in Bordeaux underwent a genuine qualitative transformation under the impetus of Christine Valette in the 1980s. Today, the estate belongs to the reinsurance group SCOR, which has entrusted its management to Aymeric de Gironde. The estate is distinguished by its deep commitment to sustainable viticulture, the preservation of biodiversity, and a carbon-neutral approach, all while offering a first-rate wine tourism experience.

The Vineyard

Rising to an altitude of 110 meters, the estate's single 37-hectare vineyard block dominates the Saint-Émilion appellation. It benefits from 360-degree sun exposure and rests on a unique geology composed of Agenais molasse, a rare clay, layered over asteriated limestone. This diversity gives rise to around 25 distinct sub-terroirs. The grape variety mix is dominated by Merlot (85%), complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (2%). The vines, some dating back to the 1920s, are cultivated using sustainable methods, without herbicides, with soil work carried out using animal traction to preserve microbial life.

The Vintage

Following a previous year marked by a historic heatwave, this vintage benefited from weather conditions that allowed for more generous yields. The growing cycle culminated in a harvest spread from October 4 to 17, an extended picking period that made it possible to gather the berries from each plot at their optimal stage of ripeness.

Winemaking and Aging

The making of Château Troplong Mondot 2004 follows the technical philosophy established during the estate's period of modernization. The berries underwent precise plot-by-plot vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The aging of this vintage was then carried out with a significant proportion of new oak barrels, a method characteristic of that era, aimed at structuring the wine while developing its aromatic complexity.