Château La Mondotte - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2017

Wine Advocate

96 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 La Mondotte explodes with beguiling scents of wild blueberries, black raspberries and warm plums plus nuances of lilacs, tilled soil, fallen leaves and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling, crunchy blue and black fruits with a wonderfully plush texture and loads of freshness, finishing long and savory. Drinking Window : 2024 - 2053

Vinous

96 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

The 2017 La Mondotte is absolutely exquisite, just as it was from barrel. In 2017, La Mondotte stands out for its aromatic intensity, nuance and total translucency. Sage, mint, licorice, plum, chocolate, spice and mineral undertones all grace this striking, beautifully nuanced Saint-Émilion made with 30% Cabernet Franc in addition to its Merlot base. More than anything else, I really admire the wine's precision and tension. The 2017 is such a gorgeous Mondotte.

Wine Spectator

97 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

Not shy, this pumps lush, dark plum, cassis and fig fruit forward, backed by contrasting waves of grippy tobacco and licorice snap. Dense and muscular until the finish, when a well-buried chalky minerality begins to emerge, adding refinement and cut. A big style, built for the cellar. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2042. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

Extremely complex on the nose with blackberries, chili spice, chocolate and fresh walnuts. Full-bodied, tight and very minerally and racy. Steely tannins. Fresh and vivid. Seamless, soft tannins give this form and beauty. Fresh and powerful. Profound. Drink in 2022.

Le Point

17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Fruits noirs, cerise, bouche élégante, fine, belle structure, juteux, frais relevé, un vin dynamique, du fruit et de la complexité.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The deepest colored in the lineup from owner Stephan von Neipperg, the 2017 La Mondotte comes from a magical terroir covering 11.5-acres of clay and limestone soils located above Pavie and Pavie Decesse. It boasts a vibrant purple color to go with fresh, gorgeously pure notes of blueberries, violets, licorice, and ample minerality. Possessing medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, present tannin, integrated acidity, and a great finish, it doesn’t have the volume or weight of the 2015 and is made in a more elegant, finesse-driven style. It’s a brilliant wine that’s going to need 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for two decades or more.

Vinifera

94 / 100

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Pas de gel. Beaucoup plus d’unité aromatique que les autres vins des vignobles Von Neipperg dans le millésime. On a un fruit très mûr, riche et confit, étoffé, ambitieux, velouté, très bon dans son style.

Vinous

93-96 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 La Mondotte is a total stunner, not to mention one of the wines of the vintage. Exquisitely layered in the glass, the 2017 possesses stunning freshness and vibrant to play off the characteristically dense Mondotte fruit. Lavender, chocolate, menthol, spice, crushed rocks and new leather add nuance to a core of plush, inky dark fruit. La Mondotte was spared damage from frost. For the first time, La Mondotte contains 30% Cabernet Franc. Tasted two times.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Darkly tinted with purple accents, evocations of blackberry liqueur, flowers, licorice, smoke and coffee, the wine is full bodied, concentrated, lush, deep and mouth-filling. There is richness, length and salty tannins. Give this 10-15 of years of age to develop. Blending 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14% alcohol with a pH 3.5. The harvest took place September 14 - September 29.

Vinous

93-95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 La Mondotte was picked 14 to 29 September at 26hl/ha, a respectable yield since this was not touched by the frost. It is matured in 60% new oak. It has quite a rich and opulent bouquet with layers of kirsch, wild strawberry, blood orange and rose petals. Sure, it is a little glossy in style although that is usual for La Mondotte at this early stage. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. This feels quite rounded in the mouth, low acidity, sensual in texture with a touch of spice and white pepper towards the sumptuous finish. Without question this is the best of Comte Stephan von Neipperg’s wines this year and a really quite masterful La Mondotte. Tasted three times with consistent notes.

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

There was no frost here. Composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 La Mondotte simply sings of gorgeous ripe blackberries, mulberries and black raspberries with touches of sandalwood, lavender, licorice and rose hips plus wafts of garrigue and exotic spices. The palate is medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm, very silky tannins and layer upon layer of black fruits and spices, finishing very long and beautifully perfumed.

WeinWisser

19 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/25/2018

Jamessuckling.com

96-97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

Incredibly complete for the vintage, this cascades with its character of dark chocolate, blackberry coulis and Chinese spices. It’s so very beguiling on the palate with rich yet in-tune black fruit and complemented by regal, surrounding tannins. Bright acid carries this through to a long finish.

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

Solidly built, with a ganache frame that marries well with the core of fig and plum compote flavors. Tobacco and chalky minerality line the finish, revealing an echo of savory at the very end. Starts big and gains refinement as it moves along.—J.M.