2016 Ch. Tronquoy-Lalande
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Tasting Notes
The 2016 Tronquoy-Lalande is a brilliant wine. Wafting from the glass with scents of cassis, dark berries, cigar wrapper and loamy soil, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless, with a deep and multidimensional core, lively acids and beautifully ripe tannins. Suave and elegant, this young, impeccably balanced classic will delight Médoc purists, but it is far from austere today and will offer a remarkably broad drinking window.
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James Suckling
Wine Enthusiast
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With 58% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Tronquoy-Lalande has a deep garnet-purple color. It requires a little swirling to uncover notions of stewed black plums, blackberry pie, and fruitcake, plus suggestions of crushed rocks, sauteed herbs, and charcuterie. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a great core of ripe black fruits with loads of savory sparks and a grainy texture, finishing with great length and freshness.
Still extremely young, majoring on bitter chocolate, liqourice root, cigar box, slate and cassis. Concentrated, not giving much away yet, this still needs another few years in bottle to loosen up the tannic architecture.
The 2016 Tronquoy-Lalande has a concentrated bouquet featuring a more open fruit profile compared to the 2016 La Dame de Montrose, offering blackberry, raspberry and light cassis notes and revealing touches of cedar and incense with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity, and quite linear, leading into a nicely detailed, quite tensile finish. Another Saint-Estèphe that needs time, but this is a classy number. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.
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About the producer
This 30-hectare estate in Saint-Estèphe is only classified as a Cru Bourgeois yet its terroir has long been prized. Now part of the same stable as the illustrious Ch. Montrose, there has been significant investment here, with rising quality and wines that now offer excellent value.