Chateau Tronquoy Lalande 2012

Chateau Tronquoy Lalande, St Estephe, Bordeaux, France, 2012

Grapes: A blend of 57% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, 30ha vineyard on deep gravel/clay soil, aged 12 months in French oak barrels (25% new)

This dense ruby/purple-hued, medium to full bodied effort exhibits plenty of creme de cassis, spring flower, forest floor and crushed rock-like characteristics. Loaded with fruit, with a long, velvety finish. Well-integrated tannins and a certain spiciness are typical features of the blend, together with the trademark tobacco, resin, blackcurrant and liquorice aromas which give the wine its distinctive personality.

Located in the heart of the Saint-Estèphe appellation, Château Tronquoy has origins dating back to the 18th century. It had several different owners until 2006, when it was acquired by Martin and Olivier Bouygues. In 2010, a vast barrel hall and a new vat house equipped with a vertical press and 22 temperature-controlled stainless steel vats was constructed.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"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."

89+/100 points, Robert M. Parker Jr., WINE ADVOCATE, April 2015

"Medium bodied, with a smoky, round textured, forward, licorice and blackberry essence, the wine is drinking well already and should provide a lot of pleasure more than a decade or longer."

90/100 points, Jeff Leve, THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER, May 2015

Drink wilth grilled red and white meat, or with fine cheeses.