La Mondotte St-Emilion 2016

98+ points Jeb Dunnuck: "Not far off the magical 2015, the 2016 La Mondotte comes from a tiny vineyard of clay and limestone soil located next to Pavie Decesse. A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, this behemoth boasts a deep purple color as well as a brilliant array of crème de cassis, blackcurrants, crushed rocks, and graphite. Full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, with liquid minerality emerging with time in the glass, this legendary Saint-Emilion in the making needs 5-7 years of bottle age and will keep for 3-4 decades. Drink: 2024-2064. (2/28/19)"

96-98 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider) (4/24/17).

97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 La Mondotte is gorgeous in this vintage. Over the last few years, Stephan von Neipperg has gradually started to pick earlier. Nowhere is that more evident in his wines than at La Mondotte, which in 2016 impresses for its power, tension and energy. Much less obvious than it has been in the past, La Mondotte is arrestingly beautiful at this stage. Bright floral and mineral notes run through a core of dark red and purplish fruit in this stunningly beautiful, expressive Saint-Émilion. In a word: tremendous. Tasted two times. Drink: 2021-2041. (Jan 2019)"

97 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "The blend is led by Merlot at 80% of the total, with 20% Cabernet Franc. The élevage was in barrel for 17 months, using 70% new oak, the wine bottled in May 2018. A seductively perfumed nose here, with a dark, roasted, violet and black plum nose, complicated by savoury and salty nuances of black bean and balsamic, with both a licorice intensity and a peppery freshness. The palate is very poised and precise, with a fresh, rich and broad grip, supple and polished, with wonderfully dark and grained fruits, licorice, black bean and damson reflecting the concentrated polish of the nose. The oak gives it a little twist of vanilla and toast, but it is subtle, and it is the density of the fruit, the sinewy and wiry texture, that really defines this wine. Excellent, with a long and finely gripped character in the finish. The two top wines from Stephan von Neipperg, this and Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, seem to both display a fabulous freshness and sinewy substance in this vintage. (Dec 2018)"

97 points James Suckling: "So much black truffle and blueberry on the nose. Decadent and aromatic. Wet soil. Indian ink. Full-bodied, polished and so velvety with fantastic depth of fruit and ripe tannins, yet powerful and fresh. Slightly minerally and salty underneath. (1/15/19)"

96 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "Made by the winemaking team of Canon la Gaffelière, this wine is stylishly elegant, restrained in its structure and tannins. Its intensely juicy character is already attractive, giving the wine almost a refreshing character. This balanced wine will be ready from 2025. Alcohol 14.5%. (May 2019)"