Chateau La Mondotte   La Mondotte

2014 La Mondotte

By Chateau La Mondotte

2014 La Mondotte from Chateau La Mondotte, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux

In the somewhat topsy-turvy vintage of 2014, few estates managed to distill the year's erratic climate into a narrative of excellence. Among those, the 2014 La Mondotte from Chateau La Mondotte commands particular attention—a testament to the proficient hands that sculpted its journey from grape to glass.

 

Resilience and Refinement: A Saint-Emilion Standout

While Bordeaux wrestled with climatic whims that season, Chateau La Mondotte's vintage quickly emerged as a beacon of balance and precision. Helmed by the esteemed von Neipperg family, their astute vineyard practices, including biodynamic methods and fruit selection akin to haute couture tailoring, spoke volumes in this harvest.

 

A Vintage Sculpted by Nature and Nurture

The vicissitudes of the 2014 season gave rise to conditions that required meticulous canopy management and soil attentiveness—the backbone behind the pulchritude of this vintage. The resultant wine, an articulate blend primarily consisting of Merlot with a soupçon of Cabernet Franc, encapsulated both the vigour and vulnerability of its environment.

The 2014 La Mondotte shows no trace of complacency in its structure or aroma. On the palate, it delivers an intricate lacework of blackberry compote and plums underpinned by the classic graphite and earthy nuances characteristic of laudable Saint-Emilion wines. The tannins reveal an assertive yet suave profile that promises longevity—a critical factor for judicious investors eyeing potential cellar candidates.

Concluding this enological chapter is the wine's enduring finish—a melodious balance between depth and precision, dark fruits and fragrant persistence. As collectors seek out vintages with both immediate allure and the spine for maturation, the 2014 La Mondotte presents as an eminent example within one's investment portfolio. Its story weaved through tumultuous weather comes to a climax in an expressive, confident wine that reflects not just the resilience but also the sublime flair of its heritage.

For investors ready to enrich their collection with a Bordeaux of character and poise, the 2014 La Mondotte from Chateau La Mondotte persists as one of the region's most compelling tales of vinous adaptation and finesse. As it continues its ascent towards its peak drinking window, this stellar vintage exudes both pedigree and promise—a hallmark strategy for those diversifying their enological assets with incisive foresight.

Market price (CAD)

$2,010.00

12x75cl

Highest score

96

POP score

75.63

Scores and tasting notes

94-97

No tasting note available.

Wine Spectator - The Wine Spectator

94-95

No tasting note available.

James Suckling - Jamesuckling.com (04/2015)

92-94

No tasting note available.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate

93

No tasting note available.

Tim Atkin - TimAtkin.com (04/2015)

93

The 2014 La Mondotte has a lucid, purple color with fat tears on the glass. It feels rich, opulent and rather ostentatious on the nose, although you cannot deny the purity of fruit: cassis and blueberry at first, then a touch of cherry liqueur. The palate is full-bodied with an almost viscous opening. This is a dense and powerful La Mondotte, almost muscular, perhaps not quite as velvety smooth as other vintages, but very spicy and peppery towards the persistent finish. It does not quite convey the complexity that I have found on other vintages, although several years in bottle should see this develop into something less oppressive and more interesting.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 31 March 2017

Vintage performance