2000 Château Troplong-Mondot

Deep ruby in colour, with juicy acidity that balances out the abundant sandalwood and cedar oak notes, although this is ever so slightly drying on the finish. Bitter chocolate, pencil lead, crushed rocks, black cherries, has impact and is hard to argue with, but expect a broad-shouldered wine even at 22 years old. The firm tannic architecture is still in full swing, and this has a good few decades ahead of it. First vintage for technical director Rémy Monribot. 100% new oak, Michel Rolland consultant.

Intense, deep in colour, a big step up from 1998/99. Dark-fruit character, firm supporting tannins, just the right amount of acidity to keep the palate fresh. Complex, long aftertaste with fragrant, spicy notes. A 2000 which lives up to the vintage billing. (AWH)

The 2000 Troplong Mondot is another vintage that I have not tasted for a long time. This includes some Cabernet Sauvignon that was north-facing and subsequently removed for the 2001. The youthful bouquet of black cherries, cassis, marmalade and blood orange is vibrant and precocious and shows fewer secondary aromas than some of its peers. It opens nicely to reveal camphor and star anise aromas, almost Rhône-like. The palate is chewy, quite dense and backward but initially lacks a bit of charm. Licorice and sloes come through. Slightly granular in texture, it feels tight at first, but it deserves applause for its freshness and improves with aeration, loosening up and finally developing that missing charm. (NM)