CHATEAU TROPLONG MONDOT, 2005

"The Troplong Mondot 2005 is a blend composed of 90% Merlot and the remainder Cabernet Franc. Tasting this wine was a moving experience, thinking of the late Christine Valette, who crafted this fascinating wine while bravely battling an insidious illness. This is a great effort and a true star of the vintage. Dense purple in color, it offers notes of white chocolate, blackberry, cassis, and licorice, along with a hint of truffle and a subtle oak background. Full-bodied, complex, and with spectacular purity and richness, it is a true tour de force and a superb tribute to an extraordinary woman. Remarkably youthful, this wine will likely require another 4 to 8 years of bottle aging and should last for 20 years or more. A tribute to the late Christine Valette! Best enjoyed between 2019 and 2043." - Robert Parker