| Troplong Mondot 2004 • September 2005 | TROPLONG MONDOT
1st Great Classified Growth
2004 Vintage
Situation:
The Troplong Mondot vineyard is located on the clay-limestone plateau to the east of the St Emilion village.
Density of plantation:
6,600 plants per hectare.
Grape varieties:
∑ 80 % Merlot,
∑ 10 % Cabernet Franc,
∑ 10 % Cabernet Sauvignon.
Average age of the vines:
35 years.
2004 yield:
40 hectolitres per hectare.
Vineyard management:
Traditional viticulture combined with an environmentally-friendly approach (no weedkillers, chemical fertilisers or pesticides), and yields are controlled.
Plot by plot vineyard management.
Ploughing, Cordeau bordelaise pruning (leaving two canes).
De-budding in the spring.
De-leafing in July then crop thinning to enhance optimal ripening of the grapes.
Hand-picking with harvesting dates based on 3 criteria: ripeness checks, tasting of berries, the taking into account of the estate’s different terroirs.
Vinification:
This is carried out in small, temperature controlled stainless steel vats.
Traditional vinification.
Pumping over or rack and return (délestage). 21 to 28 days vatting.
The free-run wine goes 75 % into new barrels.
The malo-lactic fermentation is done in barrels. The ageing on fine lees lasted 14 months and half
Racking through the small bunghole from barrel to barrel, determined by tasting. The final blending is carried out, ageing finished, just before the bottling.
Second wine:
Mondot.
Volume of production estimation after blending:
Troplong Mondot: 87,000 bottles.
Mondot: 29,000 bottles.
The 2004 campaign:
At the beginning of 2004, the cold, dry winter weather stretched into March and caused a delay in bud-break. In April, alternate mild, sunny days and cool rainy ones slowed down vine vegetation growth. In June, the sunshine and hot weather brought about an explosive, exceptional flowering in large quantity. The months of June and July were the driest of the four previous years and provided favourable hydric conditions in the lead-up to grape-colour change. August had alternate days of high temperatures and sudden returns to cool weather with some rainfall. The exceptionally fine conditions in September with normal rainfall of 40mm enabled the grapes to attain a good balance between freshness and concentration.
2004 was quite a late-ripening year with the harvest taking place from the 4th to the 17th October, 2004. The 2004 vintage was able to take advantage of favourable weather conditions and produce quality grapes.
Tasting:
The 2004 Troplong Mondot exhibits a dark colour with light purple glints.
The nose is powerful and harmonious with spicy, floral notes mingling with red berry fruit aromas and a touch of liquorice that is characteristic of the terroir.
On the palate, the wine is supple and mellow, with firmness on the mid-palate, refreshing acidity, lovely, velvety tannins and a classy finish.
Full-bodied and beautifully ripe, the wine is powerful but very well balanced.
A long, ample and racy wine: this is a great, classic vintage for Troplong Mondot.
Owners:
Xavier Pariente and Christine Valette-Pariente.
Cellarmaster: Jean Pierre Taleyson.
Vineyard manager: Rémy Monribot.
Communication: Stéphanie Libreau.
Contacts:
Château Troplong Mondot – 33330 Saint-Emilion
Tel: +33 (0) 557 553 205 - Fax: +33 (0) 557 553 207
E-Mail: contact@chateau-troplong-mondot.com
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