2004 Château Troplong Mondot, St Emilion, Bordeaux

Since the mid-1980s, when Michel Rolland began overseeing the winemaking and owner Christine Valette increased her control, Troplong-Mondot's wines have been 1er Grand Cru Classé quality - the 2004, a blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, is no exception. Displaying a flamboyant nose of sweet, jammy fruit (plums, cherries and blackberries), this wine is initially more demure on the palate, but then the enticing ripe fruit flavours explode in the mouth. The structure is seamless and the finish soft and gentle with round tannins but still plenty of pure, fresh fruit.