Château Troplong Mondot 2004

Aromas of blackberry, with hints of tobacco. Full-bodied, with fine tannins, good length and a delicate, fruity aftertaste. Much more refined than I remember from barrel. Caressing. Best after 2007. 5,000 cases made.

Medium bodied and ready to drink, this is better on the nose, with its plum and truffle scents, than on the palate, which is slightly drying in the finish.

Extremely dark purple color with violet-black highlights. Black-berry bouquet with dried plums, licorice, smoky notes, and jasmine tea. On the palate, even creamier, with big, rich tannins; the aromatics stay in the realm of black berries; the astringency shows fairly masculine tannins, so it still feels a bit upfront at this stage. Great potential that still needs time to settle; if it does, it could earn one more point.

Extremely dark purple with violet-black highlights. A black-fruit bouquet with dried plums and licorice, followed by smoky notes and jasmine tea. On the palate, even creamier, with rich, broad tannins; aromatically it stays in the black-fruit register. The astringency shows relatively masculine tannins, so it still feels a bit forward. It shows great potential that it still needs time to digest. If it manages that, it can take another step up.

Sweet, velvety, opulent, creamy bouquet: blackberry jelly, dried fruits, raspberry compote, chocolate. Velvety, broad, generous palate with fine, sandy tannins, a solid structure, sweet aromatics, and a more austere finish. 17/20 drink through 2030.

Oak dominant, toasted cedar on the opening beats, but it clears and there is charming dark berry fruit behind. Enjoyable texture, structure, architecture, shot through with undergrowth, earth, cigar box, smoke and liquorice. Hard not to be impressed by the power that runs through this, with muscular tannins that benefit from the fresh mint leaf and eucalyptus that comes in to balance things out on the finish. This vintage had the biggest yields for years at Troplong, which almost certainly helped give this some light through the concentration. 100% new oak, Michel Rolland consultant.

The 2004 Troplong Mondot had a relatively large yield for the estate of 41 hectoliters/hectare. It has a deep garnet color, with a touch of brick. It springs from the glass with pronounced notes of chocolate mint, kirsch, and plum preserves, leading to suggestions of aniseed and mossy tree bark. The medium-bodied palate is generous and juicy, with firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and minty.

Noble aromas of black truffle, with an elongated, dynamic tannin structure offering a fresh, charming velvety mouthfeel.

Nuances of graphite and blackcurrant, complemented by a touch of garrigue. Seductive on the attack, the wine has powerful tannins that provide ideal support, together with its acidic structure. Overall, a fairly classic wine, though it could do with a little more velvety texture.

A dark, intense colour with a slightly evolved hue. An aromatic, refined nose, fruity and southern in character, with a creamy note alongside hints of truffle and coffee. Sleek and flavourful from the first sip, the wine develops with a supple, seamless texture, showing plenty of flavour on the finish and slightly mineral tannins.