2011 La Mondotte
By Chateau La Mondotte
2011 La Mondotte from Chateau La Mondotte, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux
Within the prestigious sea of wines comprising Saint-Émilion's verdant hills, the 2011 La Mondotte from Chateau La Mondotte embodies a vintage that, though challenging, culminated in wines of profound complexity and unexpected charm. This vintage stands as a testament to the alchemy between terrain and tempest, where meticulous vineyard stewardship met capricious climatic whims.
The Singular Symphony of 2011
The 2011 vintage in Bordeaux presented winemakers with a gauntlet of hurdles—early flowering, a parched summer, and a mercurial September. These conditions harnessed the expertise of Chateau La Mondotte, compelling an impeccable timing of harvest to capture an optimum expression of their terroir. Rather than lamenting the whims of nature, one must embrace how these elements have sculpted a year exclusive in its narrative.
This vintage articulates a divergent tale for collectors; like an eloquent raconteur, it discloses notes of dark cherries and cassis wrapped in an enigmatic cloak of truffle and gentle spice. Its tannins are assertive yet polished, reflecting not mere resilience but elegantly choreographed adaptation. "Subtlety" and "power" seldom keep such intimate company as they do within the confines of this bottle.
A Toast to Astute Investment
Sensitivity to market fluctuations is as crucial for the oenophile as is the terroir for the vines. Consequently, savvy investors will acknowledge that the innate virtues of 2011 could transform into appreciable dividends. The 2011 La Mondotte melds rarity with pedigree—attributes deemed praiseworthy amidst the annals of fine wine investment.
This particular vintage might not bask under the broad acclaim of its sun-drenched siblings; nonetheless, it carves its niche through sheer character and grace—a dark horse, if one may call it so, within one's discerning portfolio.
As time weaves its magic into the cellars where this vintage lies in repose, those privy to its eventual awakening are set to inherit not just bottled history but a symphonious blend of château craftsmanship and nature's mise-en-scène from a unique episode in Bordeaux's living anthology.
Market price (HKD)
HK$12,100.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
97.69
Scores and tasting notes
The 2011 La Mondotte has a very pure, defined bouquet that offers luscious dark cherries and blackberry scents, hints of violet petal emerging with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky smooth entry, very well-judged acidity and a seamless finish that slips down the throat with style. This is simply a gorgeous and voluptuous Saint Emilion that will seduce at twenty paces, which is something you could not ascribe to many 2011s. Tasted April 2015.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 July 2016