Château Troplong Mondot

Identity

Château Troplong Mondot is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Émilion, in Gironde. It is classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion. The estate has been owned by the reinsurance group SCOR since 2017. Aymeric de Gironde serves as Managing Director, while Rémy Monribot is the Technical Director. Jean-Pascal Schmidt is the cellar master, with oenological consultancy provided by Thomas Duclos.

History and Philosophy

The history of Château Troplong Mondot dates back to the 17th century, with the château itself built in 1745. Abbot Raymond de Sèze was its first owner. In 1850, Raymond-Théodore Troplong acquired the property and expanded it. His nephew, Édouard Troplong, appended the Troplong surname to the estate in 1869. In 1934, wine merchant Alexandre Valette acquired the property, continuing the family's presence that began in 1920. Christine Valette-Pariente took over management in 1981. In 2017, the estate was acquired by the reinsurance group SCOR. Following the acquisition, an extensive three-and-a-half-year renovation programme was undertaken, culminating in a reopening in 2021. Château Troplong Mondot is part of the Saint-Émilion wine landscape listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.

The estate champions a viticultural philosophy centred on preserving biodiversity. Vineyard management relies on sustainable, reasoned practices, including the use of animal traction (eight draught horses) to reduce soil compaction, alongside the complete cessation of chemical herbicides. The estate holds Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification and has set itself a target of carbon neutrality.

Appellations

Château Troplong Mondot produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation and holds the rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion.

Practical Information

The estate is located at 1 lieu-dit Mondot, 33330 Saint-Émilion. It can be reached by telephone on +33 (0)5 57 55 38 28 and by email at hospitality@troplong-mondot.com.

Château Troplong Mondot welcomes visitors year-round, from Monday to Sunday, morning and afternoon. The 90-minute “Escapade” tour includes a walk through the vineyards and a tasting of two wines (Mondot and Château Troplong Mondot). Tours are available in English. The property offers parking, disabled access, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning. Pets are allowed. Credit card payments are accepted. The estate also ships its wines internationally.

Château Troplong Mondot provides bespoke accommodation services. The château can accommodate 10 to 12 guests. Les Clefs de Troplong Mondot offers two double rooms and a two-bedroom suite, while La Maison des Vignes provides two guest rooms. The estate is also home to a Michelin-starred restaurant, Les Belles Perdrix, which holds a Michelin Green Star in recognition of its commitment to sustainability, sourcing 80% of its produce from its own kitchen garden.

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard of Château Troplong Mondot extends over 36 hectares, although other sources cite 29 hectares under vine out of a total of 33 hectares, 43 hectares for the estate’s total surface area, or 39 hectares. It is situated on the Mondot mound, facing the village of Saint-Émilion, at the highest point of the appellation. The soils are predominantly clay-limestone, characterised by a layer of clay over thick limestone bedrock mixed with flint and limestone fragments, resting above the water table. The vineyard encompasses 25 distinct sub-terroirs.

The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (85%), complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (2%). Other sources record the plantings as 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. The average vine age is 35 years. Yields generally do not exceed 50 hl/ha.

Flagship Cuvées

The estate's grand vin is Château Troplong Mondot. Crafted from the property's prime grape varieties, it showcases the estate's exceptional savoir-faire. The second wine is named Mondot (or Le Mondot). Approximately 100,000 bottles of Château Troplong Mondot are produced annually, alongside just under 30,000 bottles of Mondot, with an overall average production of 80,000 bottles.

Vinification and Ageing

Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand. The state-of-the-art winemaking facility, operational since 2021, features a temperature-controlled harvest reception area with a cold room. Vinification takes place in 42 gravity-fed stainless steel vats of varying capacities from 30 to 100 hectolitres. The ageing process takes place in oak barrels across two dedicated ageing cellars capable of housing up to 1,200 barriques.