97-
98
JAMES SUCKLING: "A dense yet agile wine with blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and citrus aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that spread across the palate, running the length of the wine and helping it to last for minutes on the finish. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc."
19
WEINWISSER: "80 % Merlot, 20 % Cabernet Franc, 37 hl/ha, 13.5 Vol.-%. Berauschendes blaubeeriges Bouquet, betörendes Veilchenparfüm, Lakritze und Heidelbeergelee. Im zweiten Ansatz roter Cassis und satter Iris-Duft. Am sublimen Gaumen mit vibrierender Rasse, engmaschigem Tanningerüst, dunklem mineralischem Kern und trainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten langanhaltenden Finale mit kleinen schwarzen Beeren und tiefschürfender Terroirwürze gepaart mit edler Salznote."
96-
98
THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Incense, flowers, black cherries, cigar box, plums, and spice are easy to spot in the perfume. On the palate, texturally, the fruits are as lush, as they are bright, and fresh. There is an understated sense of elegance that becomes apparent as the wine expands, and lingers on your palate. The lengthy finish continues gaining in intensity and complexity. The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% ABV. The harvest took place September 19-30. 2029-2060."
96
VINUM: "Tiefdunkel in der Farbe und im Duft, reife, satte Frucht, sensationelles Tannin, pudrig, salin, der Wein ist mächtig, dennoch elegant, ein faszinierender Tanz zwischen Reife und Frische. Grosse Klasse."
94-
96+
LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2023 La Mondotte is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a little swirling to bring out evocative scents of stewed plums, black cherry compote, and cedar chest plus hints of sassafras and dark chocolate. The medium-bodied palate delivers energetic, tight-knit black fruit layers with minerally accents and great tension, framed by firm grainy tannins, finishing long and lifted. The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc."
95
DECANTER: "Smells amazing - cool blueberries and cherries, milk chocolate. Smooth and round, tart and bright, almost searing, lots of acidity then powdery tannins make their way in with a chalky minerality. But this has some softness and charm, it’s juicy and clean. It softens slightly towards the finish, just tapering, missing a touch more persistence but it’s nicely pristine with lots of layers and depth in terms of texture. Just a bit coiled right now. Should be great in time."
94-
96
JEB DUNNUCK: "A more Merlot-dominated blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 La Mondotte has a semi-opaque hue to go with beautiful aromatics of black raspberry and bright cherry-like fruit as well as some classic graphite, chalky minerality, and floral notes. It's another medium to full-bodied, seamless, beautifully balanced red from this team that has fine tannins and an overriding sense of freshness and elegance."
95
FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Zart nach Veilchen, feine reife Kirschfrucht, etwas Nugat und Edelholz, angenehme Würze, attraktives Bukett. Kraftvoll, saftig, reife Kirschen und Brombeeren, komplex, eleganter Stil, frischer, lebendiger Stil, mineralisch im Abgang, gute Länge, gutes Reifepotenzial."
92-
94
THE WINE ADVOCATE: "I typically have a weakness for Canon-la-Gaffelière in the von Niepperg portfolio, but this year it's the 2023 La Mondotte, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, that stands out as the highlight of the range. Revealing aromas of dark berries, licorice and petals, framed by creamy new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and harmonious, with good depth at the core, supple tannin and a penetrating finish."
