1996 Château Troplong-Mondot

Plenty of crushed berry and spice on the nose. Full-bodied, with full, slightly drying tannins, but good berry and chocolate flavors on the finish. Perhaps slightly overwooded. Best after 2001. – James Suckling , Wine Spectator 1999

I am pleased with the way this wine has turned out. The ferocious tannin has been slightly tamed now that the wine is in bottle. Still a backward style of Troplong-Mondot, it will require 6-7 years of cellaring. The wine exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, and a powerful nose of licorice, black currants, and spicy new oak. There is sweet fruit on the attack and medium body, but the firm tannin gives the wine grip and delineation, as well as a certain austerity. This wine does possess the requisite depth to support its tannic clout, but patience is required. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2019.Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 122

Now reaching 20 years old, the 1996 Troplong-Mondot has a rather staid bouquet that is missing a sense of animation and terroir expression. It kind of just "sits there." The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin, a touch of chocolate and candied orange peel, nicely weighted in the mouth with a little more freshness on the finish than exhibited by the nose. This was not a great Saint Emilion vintage and this Troplong-Mondot cannot transcend that, but it gives modest drinking pleasure. Tasted July 2016. Oct 2016, www.robertparker.com