Château Troplong Mondot St Emilion Grand Cru Premier Grand Cru Classé B 2015

This captures the exuberance of Troplong in the Xavier Pariente years. Visually it captures the natural power of these soils, with vivid violet plum colour, and beautiful liquorice root and cocoa bean, but it opens to show fig and prune fruits, given balance by bitter fennel and aniseed on the finish. The alcohol is evident, and it overpowers the clearly concentrated body of the wine. Still young – if you can bear to wait, check in after another half decade. 85% new oak. Michel Rolland consultant.