Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
La Mondotte
Label Name:
 
St Emilion Gcc
Vintage:
 
1996
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Saint-Émilion (Libournais), Bordeaux
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
13.5%
Grape(s):
 
Merlot
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) – 95–98 pts (initial reviews), often cited as 97 pts (Wine Advocate #122, Apr 1999). Stephen Tanzer/Int'l Wine Cellar ~91 pts

Tasting Note
Opaque purple; intensely concentrated black cherry, cassis, truffle, licorice and roasted coffee with smoky new‑oak. Full‑bodied, viscous and layered, with polished yet powerful tannins and a very long finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast lamb, grilled ribeye, duck confit, mushroom risotto, braised short ribs. Asian: Peking duck, char siu (barbecue pork), Korean bulgogi, braised beef short ribs, shiitake/soy stir‑fries.

Production Method
Hand‑harvested, 100% Merlot with extended maceration; fermented and matured in 100% new French oak (estimate ~18 months); small‑batch, high‑extraction 'garage' style production.

Vineyard Info
Created by Comte Stephan de Neipperg and launched as a separate label in 1996. Vineyard ~4.5 ha on limestone‑clay soils near Canon‑la‑Gaffelière; tiny production (≈800 cases in 1996).