2012 Château Tronquoy-Lalande
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Tasting notes
The 2012 Tronquoy-Lalande has a slightly meatier/dried blood tinged bouquet with scents of melted tar coming through with time and later a distant touch of mint. The palate is medium-bodied with rather rustic tannins. A bold Saint-Estèphe that lacks a bit of grace, ferrous and overtly spicy on the finish. It has the substance to last, but not necessarily improve. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. A bit sweet and briney. This has real presence and ambition. Lots of fruit already. Bursting with life. Very long. (JR)
This fabulous, opaque ruby/purple-colored 2012 comes from an up-and-coming, overachieving estate in St.-Estèphe, owned by the proprietors of Montrose. There’s a good chunk of Merlot (57%) in the blend of this excellent wine (the balance is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot), which delivers sweet cassis and blueberry fruit that hits the palate with serious authority, admirable purity, impressive texture and a medium-bodied, long finish. This is an undeniable success and major sleeper of the vintage.
About the producer
This 30-hectare estate in Saint-Estèphe is only classified as a Cru Bourgeois yet its terroir has long been prized. Now part of the same stable as the illustrious Ch. Montrose, there has been significant investment here, with rising quality and wines that now offer excellent value.