Château La Mondotte 2016

This shows a dark, toasty style at first, with notes of ganache and plum reduction, but it unwinds steadily and slowly, revealing pure cassis, cherry and raspberry fruit flavors gilded liberally with violet and anise accents. The long finish is laced with a superfine chalky minerality that imparts mouthwatering cut even as the fruit gains steam. Best from 2023 through 2038. 1,250 cases made.

So much black truffle and blueberry on the nose. Decadent and aromatic. Wet soil. Indian ink. Full-bodied, polished and so velvety with fantastic depth of fruit and ripe tannins, yet powerful and fresh. Slightly minerally and salty underneath.

The 2016 La Mondotte is gorgeous in this vintage. Over the last few years, Stephan von Neipperg has gradually started to pick earlier. Nowhere is that more evident in his wines than at La Mondotte, which in 2016 impresses for its power, tension and energy. Much less obvious than it has been in the past, La Mondotte is arrestingly beautiful at this stage. Bright floral and mineral notes run through a core of dark red and purplish fruit in this stunningly beautiful, expressive Saint-Émilion. In a word: tremendous. Tasted two times.

This just keeps on getting better, adding additional layers of fruit, levels of complexity and sensuality to the texture. Full-bodied, intense, rich and deep, with a strong sense of minerality, give this 12–15 years in the cellar before you pop a cork.

Deep, dark ruby in colour with a strong core and purple reflections, brightening at the rim. Black cherry on the nose. The linear palate shows rich density, with a textured, grippy feel and plenty of limestone minerality. With restraint, the palate reveals a graininess coupled with minerality. The grainy tannin masks the viscosity, and vice versa. Still compact and almost unimpressive, it will age gigantically.

Beautiful intensity, a floral and chalky nose with fine smoke, five spices, violet, ripe dark blackberry, cherry, plum and discreet oak in the background. Very dense yet with vital freshness, finely polished tannins, layers of vibrant dark fruit, high ripeness but perfectly balanced with a wealth of spicy blackberry, cherry, some wood and tobacco notes. Powerful yet silky with tremendous length, power and elegance.

80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. 70% new barriques, 42 hl/ha. Deep purple with a black core and violet rim. Concentrated bouquet of morello cherry, raspberry purée and violet, with blueberry and cassis candy in the background. On the very elegant palate, lots of freshness, blackberry blossoms and sloe juice – a Formula 1 racer with pure finesse that fully deserves its score this year! The 65-year-old vines make the difference – they withstood the challenging weather conditions and show a low pH!

Kunz barrel sample 17: (80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 42 hl/ha) Concentrated, complex, fresh, deep bouquet, blue and black berries, currants, tobacco, cedar, graphite, a fine hint of eucalyptus. Creamy, dense, multi-layered, finely opulent, concentrated palate with plenty of fine tannins, concentrated, diverse aromatics, creamy, finely muscular structure, very long, dense, multi-layered finish with many lingering flavors. Can still improve. (19/20): 21: René Gabriel: Very dark garnet with violet highlights. Warm dark-fruited bouquet, blackberries, cassis and mulberries, going nicely deep while also opening generously. On the palate velvety, already quite supple, showing rounded tannins. A very harmonious, superbly balanced Saint-Emilion. Clear greatness is emerging here, and it will likely give pleasure very soon and for a very long time. Among the best Mondotte in its still young history, at least regarding the new era since 1996. Very long-lived. With Gabriel guarantee!

Powerful, fresh, sweet, fruity bouquet: strawberry jelly, dark chocolate pralines, licorice, slate, delicate dried-fruit notes. Densely knit, powerful palate with dark, black fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a velvety, finely muscular structure, rich and complex aromatics, and a very long, creamy finish with persistent afteraromas. Has room to improve. 19/20 2025 - 2050

La Mondotte 2016 is deep garnet-colored. It slowly unfurls to reveal opulent scents of sandalwood, kirsch, blackberry preserves, and chocolate box, with hints of Sichuan pepper and tree bark. Medium-bodied, the palate is chewy and lively with dried berry and floral layers, finishing earthy.

A superb wine to drink, complex and intense.

Deep garnet red. What a bouquet, what finesse and complexity. The nose has many facets without any dominant element, which clearly underscores its breadth. Notes of freshness, red fruits, and spices. The attack is delicate, inviting, and compact. The tannins build in a crescendo to reach their full breadth on the finish. A wine of rare finesse that shows how closely power can be intertwined with delicacy.

Made by the winemaking team of Canon la Gaffelière, this wine is stylishly elegant, restrained in its structure and tannins. Its intensely juicy character is already attractive, giving the wine almost a refreshing character. This balanced wine will be ready from 2025.