La Mondotte

The Wine Cellar Insider THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER (JEFF LEVE) : 98-100 / 100 Inky in color, in fact this is completely opaque. On the nose, the wine overflows with licorice, blackberry liqueur, figs and cocoa. Rich with surreal intensity, the wine both soothes and excites your palate to get to know it on a more intimate basis. The freshness, purity and concentration levels found here are almost off the charts! This is the real deal. The finish stays with you for more than 60 seconds! The beautiful girl who you don't want to home. Blending 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14% alcohol with a pH 3.5. This could be the best wine ever produced at La Mondotte. 4/29/2016 Martin WINE ADVOCATE (NEAL MARTIN) : 94-96 / 100 The 2015 La Mondotte is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc picked on 18 September and 7 October respectively, then aged in 80% new oak after a 33-day vatting. It has a dense, opulent and very concentrated bouquet that is driven by the super-intense Merlot, though as I mention in my accompanying introduction, the alcohol is contained and not at all apparent. The palate is very well balanced with rounded, supple tannin. There is a lot of weight in the mouth here, very focused and intense with blackberry and raspberry fruit, fine mineralité and tension, leading to an almost pixelated finish. This is an impressive La Mondotte for sure, though the 2015 Canon la Gaffeliere might offer more intellect. 4/28/2016 Bettane & Desseauve BETTANE & DESSEAUVE : 18 / 20 Merlot distingué, fraîcheur et délicatesse, soutenu par une option de vendanger assez tôt (début le 18 septembre) aidé en cela par une viticulture bio assumée. Alcool maîtrisé, fraîcheur brillante, buvabilité maximale. 4/28/2016 Decanter.com DECANTER.COM (JAMES LAWTHER MW) : 94 / 100 Pure aromatics. Powerful tannic base but the tannins are ripe and round. Freshness from start to finish so great harmony. Limestone terroir apparent. Tight, firm finish. Restrained power. Now organically certified. 2028-2040 4/27/2016 Vinous VINOUS (ANTONIO GALLONI) : 95-97 / 100 The 2015 La Mondotte emerges from Stephan von Neipperg's tiny 4+ hectare vineyard on Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau. A huge, unctuous wine, the 2015 is simply stunning. All the elements meld together in an effortless, concentrated wine endowed with magnificent intensity and power. Totally seamless in the glass, the 2015 possesses magnificent richness and the pedigree to age well for many years. Tasted two times. 4/20/2016 Atkin MW TIMATKIN.COM (TIM ATKIN MW) : 93 / 100 4/10/2016 René Gabriel RENÉ GABRIEL : 18 / 20 85 % Merlot, 15 % Cabernet Franc. 34 hl/ha. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Dramatisch konzentriertes, schier nur schwarzbeeriges Fruchtbouquet aufzeigend, berauschend und ich habe ihn noch nie in einem so dunklen Beerenbereich angetroffen. Im Gaumen mächtig und doch nicht unnahbar, ausgeglichene Adstringenz, die Textur ist muskulös und verlangend. Ein sicherlich grosser Wein, aber auf jeden Fall kein Schmeichler und er wirft die Frage auf, ob er seine Tanninkonzentration in den nächsten 10 Jahren verdaut. Das Potential ist auf jeden Fall gewaltig. 18/20 2024 – 2037 4/5/2016 Jamessuckling.com JAMESSUCKLING.COM (JAMES SUCKLING) : 99-100 / 100 A phenomenal La Mondotte. The purity and intensity is so amazing. Full body, super fine and creamy tannins. The clarity is great. You can see that they have pulled back on the new wood and went for transparency. Wow. 4/3/2016 Wine Spectator WINE SPECTATOR (JAMES MOLESWORTH) : 95-98 / 100 Gorgeous, with dark blackberry and boysenberry fruit rippling along from start to finish, carried by mouthwatering anise notes. The long finish unfurls slowly, dripping with fruit while maintaining poise. Stunning.—J.M.