Bob McDonald

9.5

This wine screams right bank Bordeaux supported by a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A dark Ruby red in colour this has a lovely perfume with aromas of plum, cigar box, dried bracken and roses, tobacco and spice. Cinnamon and nutmeg from the oak. 70% of the French Oak barrels were new. Medium plus bodied. The tannins are there but lessening in impact. 14.5% ABV. This wine was #2 in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2013. A near neighbour of the aristocratic Chateau Ausone. — a day ago

Mark S.

9.1

Deep cherry red. Black currant berry cherry dried plum. Leather gentle Fruitiness M+ Sweetness M Acidity M Tannin M Smooth Body M++ Finish M+ 14% Concentrated. Good Level of readiness for drinking, still potential for aging Château Fleur Cardinale Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion 20 @, , 251219 — 3 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Black fruits, cedar, earth, leather, graphite & tobacco — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2011 pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of blackberries, black plum, black cherry, tobacco, cocoa, some dried herbs and purple flowers, damp earth and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. I think age has been kind to the 2011 vintage and while this Troplong-Mondot has plenty of gas left in the tank, it’s drinking really well now. Best through 2036. — 12 days ago

Tom Garland

9.3

2 hour decant. A marvelous medium garnet color (decent fine sediment). On the nose: dark berries, cassis, forest floor, sandalwood, pencil shavings, chocolate, and cigar box. Taste: layered, balanced, still young wine with dark cherry/plum, cedar, dark chocolate, charcoal, and a lingering tobacco/leather finish. YUM! No hurry, a long distance Las Cases. — 16 days ago

with Brenda

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 pours a ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with an explosion of smoked blackberry pie, purple flowers, bacon fat, olive, black pepper, and subtle warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the wine finishes much more elegant than the nose would suggest. The bouquet might lead one to think this is possibly over the top. However, on the palate, it was far more elegant. Another vintage, another stunning Gonon. Drink now through 2043. — 17 days ago

Ron R

9.6

Not the best of vintage in Bdx, but the winemaker clearly pulled off some acrobatics here.
Nose displays the usual Cos spice-box signature, along with notes of forest floor, sage and mushrooms. Palate is rich and dense showing no signs of age. Nice mature casis profile links up with brambles and sandalwood. Tannins continue to prop up this outstanding example. — 9 days ago

with Andrew and Rick

Jeroen Koenen

9.4

Nose is slightly off, murky, outdoorsey, rainwater, mossy rocks, old cellar scents. Gets better after an hour!
Deep ruby colour. Lovely mouthfeel, red berry fruit, cigars, cold coffee, autumnal forestfloor.
A privilige..! — 9 days ago

Cameron Parry

9.2

Took about 2 hours to open. Dark & dried cherries. Acid still nice and firm. Tannins still going strong but clearly softer and more fine grained. Feels somewhat unbalanced - good acid, good tannin, not enough fruit. May have missed the optimal window. Still very enjoyable. Only a touch of Brett. — a day ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.0

Though 55 percent Cab and 36 percent Merlot (the rest is Cab Franc and Petit Verdot), the Merlot provides a lot of influence making for a blend lacking in complexity but still quite nice. Opens up nicely with air. December 2025. — 4 days ago