Southeast of the Mondot hill, overlooking the town of St. Emilion lies Chateau Troplong Mondot. Named for its location and its former proprietor, Gerus Troplong, this estate has been home to viticulture since 1745. Its 33 hectare vineyard is planted to 90% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. "Cold," late-ripening soils produce one of the most dramatic wines of the appellation: an exotic, flashy, modern Saint-Emilion.
While it possesses more than enough stuffing and structure for extended cellaring, the wine's depth of fruit and supple tannins rarely get in the way of early drinkability. The Valette family, owners of Chateau Troplong Mondot, oversee production of 8000 cases of the Grand Vin each year, in addition to 2-3,000 cases of the second wine, called simply, Mondot.