CHÂTEAU TRONQUOY LALANDE

The 2011 Tronquoy Lalande, a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and a whopping 11% Petit Verdot (although there is nothing herbal or green about the wine), it offers loads of cassis fruit, medium body, silky tannins, and impressive ripeness and length for the vintage. Drink it over the next decade. 2012 - 2022 Rating: 88-90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Apr 2012)

The 2011 Tronquoy-Lalande is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 11% Petit Verdot. In 2011, I find there is a large difference between the Grand Vin and Deuxieme Vin, perhaps terroir playing a great influence than in 2010. The Grand Vin displays fine delineation on the conservative nose with notes of blackberry leaf, earth, granite and a touch of cassis: more purity than power. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, dusky tannins that are a little suppler tasting two weeks later on 5th April. Crisp acidity cuts through its masculine structure, foursquare but precise, tapering away towards the finish but demonstrating admirable precision and focus. Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2012)

Cabernet Sauvignon 47%, Merlot 42%, Petit Verdot 11%. This accounts for 56% of production. This estate, under the same management as Montrose, really impressed me with its 2010. Happily the 2011 is a good effort also, albeit against the backdrop of a difficult vintage. There is a very pure, dark, smoky fruit character here, restrained and rich. The palate shows a sweet and well-defined texture, more than I expected from this vintage, with a really appealing substance in the middle. Lots of depth here, attractive spice and with a fine depth of character into the finish. Perhaps the main issue is that the structure of the wine has a firm, lightly austere feel to it. So this vintage does not have the harmony of the 2010 but it is still ahead of the 2007. More on a par with the 2008 I think. Very decent. Rating: 14.5-15.5 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2012)