Wine Advisor
Tronquoy Lalande 2014
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Château Tronquoy-Lalande 2014 is a blend of 56% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It has a pleasant nose with a light marine/saline influence upon the black fruit that needs to forage for a little more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannin on the entry, quite pointed acidity that segues into a classic, foursquare finish. This is good vigor here, although I would appreciate more finesse. It did not help that this was tasted next to the superlative Montrose 2014.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2014 Tronquoy-Lalande has a crisp, graphite and black fruit nose, tightly wound with very fine precision. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, plenty of graphite and cedar infusing the black fruit, although I find the finish just a little clipped and lacking a little finesse compared to some of the other Saint Estèphes. Still, this has good potential, even if it is destined to remain in the shadow of its sibling, the 2014 Montrose.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2014 Tronquoy-Lalande has a more elegant, refined bouquet compared to its peers, a mixture of red and black fruit, cedar, iodine and violets, perhaps picked a little later? The palate is medium-bodied with a ferrous opening, and the tannins are a bit drier than I would have liked, though the overly spicy and persistent finish is complex. It will be intriguing to see how this ages further in bottle. This is a very positive showing for one of the most under-rated estates in Saint-Estèphe. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Another big, dark St.-Estèphe, but in spite of the rich body and some perceptible alcohol, there is also a cool, minty note. Slightly sweet finish in spite of all the tannins. Spice comes through at the end. Drink in 2020.
About the Producer
Château Tronquoy-Lalande is a 30-hectare estate in St Estèphe on Bordeaux’s Left Bank. The property is owned by the Bouygues family, proprietors of nearby Ch. Montrose. In her book Inside Bordeaux, Jane Anson calls Tronquoy-Lalande “one of the most reliable buys of the appellation.” The Bouygues family bought Tronquoy-Lalande in 2006. Their portfolio also includes near-neighbour Montrose, Clos Rougeard in Saumur-Champigny and a majority stake in Domaine Henri Rebourseau in Gevrey-Chambertin. Hervé Berland, formerly Managing Director at Ch. Mouton Rothschild, oversees all the estates. Tronquoy-Lalande’s Operations Manager, Yves Delsol, has been here for decades. The 30-hectare vineyard surrounds the château. Soils here are deep gravel and clay. Plantings are a majority of Merlot (52%), with 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance split between Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. A new winery was completed here in 2010.
