One of the superstars of the vintage, it boasts an inky/purple color as well as abundant notes of blueberry liqueur, graphite, truffles, acacia flowers and subtle toast. Full-bodied, opulent and already easy to drink, this large-scaled wine possesses high levels of tannin, but they are relatively well-concealed by the extravagant fruit, glycerin, texture and density of this compelling Troplong Mondot. This impressive wine may shut down after bottling and require 4-5 years of cellaring. It has the potential to last at least 15-20 years. Bravo! From a 63-acre vineyard on the high plateau (called the Plateau of Mondot) adjacent to the famous limestone hillside, the Cote Pavie, the 2012 Troplong Mondot is another fabulous success. Cropped at 31 hectoliters per hectare with malolactic in barrel, this blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon hit 14.2% natural alcohol. Three-fourths of the production went into the grand vin. Drink: 2017 - 2037 -Wine Advocate #206 Apr 2013

One of the clear wines of the vintage, the 2012 Troplong-Mondot has been remarkable on several occasions. Sweet crushed flowers, red cherries, smoke, tobacco and plums open up in a heady, sensual Saint-Emilion that hits all the right notes. The 2012 blossoms nicely with time in the glass, gaining volume, but never losing its precision. This head-turning, flashy Saint-Emilion will delight readers for the next two decades, perhaps longer. What a gorgeous wine this is. Sadly, proprietor Christine Valette passed away in the spring of 2013, but her legacy will remain alive for quite some time with wines like this.

Rich and powerful yet velvety with polished tannins and a long finish. Full and impressive. Remains fresh despite slightly elevated alcohol.

(90% merlot and 10% cabernet sauvignon; 14.3% alcohol; 31 hectoliters per hectare; roughly 75% of the total production went into the grand vin): Inky purple. Ripe aromas of cassis, stewed plum, dark cocoa, coffee and fresh herbs on the showy nose. On the palate, more ripe dark fruit and chocolate flavors are complicated by vanilla and coffee notes. This very powerful wine comes across as rich and velvety, and finishes with a trace of alcoholic heat. It will be appreciated more by fans of high-pH, internationally styled wines than by Bordeaux classicists.

Well-toasted, with coffee and ganache notes coating the core of crushed plum and blackberry fruit. Keeps a hefty feel through the finish, with the ganache edge dominating. Lacks the taut feel of the vintage, pulling off the powerful style with aplomb. —J.M.

The Grand Vin is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked between 9th and 23rd October. It has a very intense bouquet with lifted aromas of macerated dark cherries, blueberry jam and confit aromas. The palate is full-bodied with sumptuous black fruit, dense tannins but in my opinion, better balance than the 2010 and 2011. The alcohol is lower here, hovering around the high 13 percent mark, which render a better Troplong, whilst the citric edge keep everything focused. This is a very fine Saint Emilion. Tasted April 2013.

[85M/10CS/5CF] [Provisional 90M/10CF] Fresh and very mineral to smell; flatteringly full, ripe fruited balance, rich, fresh, firmly tannic, but with the fruit to support it; particularly juicy, very ripe and fleshy, freshly sweet, long and with a fine complexity to taste, and with good sweet, fragrant, length to follow. A fine Troplong in its particular, quite powerful style. 2022-35+ [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

Olive, cassis, black cherry, leathery and cedar – this is classic claret with so much to love. It has crunch in both acid and tannin – and fruit, in fact. Beautifully open and persistent. Almost as good as their 2010, but much more ready for drinking now. (RH)

Drink 2016-2022 Black as black. Intense, spiky fruit like elderberries. Intense, very ripe, a bit brash though the tannins are fully rounded. (JH)