"91 Points, Robert Parker: "The 2009 Tronquoy Lalande, a blend of 51% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot, is the finest wine they have yet produced. It reveals an opulent bouquet of mulberries, blueberries, raspberries and spring flowers, full body, silky tannin, low acidity and a lush, pure mouthfeel. This uncharacteristically round, generous, sumptuous wine should be drinkable early on."
92 Points, Neal Martin: "Tasted at Chateau Montrose, the 2009 has a ripe bouquet with brambly dark fruits, a hint of dark chocolate, graphite and sous-bois coming from the 7% Petit Verdot. The palate has good cohesion and certainly a lot more substance than the Second Wine. Firm, quite grippy tannins, very nice cohesion and focus towards the finish when the Cabernet dominates the Merlot despite it being a lower percentage of the blend (42%.) This is a great wine from Montrose’s “little sister”.""
Château Tronquoy-Lalande, situated in the heart of the appellation, is one of the oldest Saint-Estèphe wines. It takes its name from François Tronquoy, the estate’s first owner, and the place-name La Lande, meaning the heath, on which the Château’s historic vineyard is planted.
The winegrowing estate was formed in the 18th century around the remarkable château built for the Tronquoy family on a design by Victor Louis, the architect of the Grand Théâtre in Bordeaux. In 2006, Martin and Olivier Bouygues (proprietors of neighbour Ch Montrose) discovered this little vineyard, historically reputed for having one of the finest terroirs in Saint-Estèphe. On specialist advice, they decided to buy the property, marking the start of a new era in its history. They embarked on a large-scale modernisation programme which culminated in 2010 with the construction of a vast barrel hall and a new vat house equipped with a vertical press and 22 temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Château Tronquoy-Lalande’s terroir stretches seamlessly over 30 hectares (74 acres) of historic outcrops in the heart of the famous Saint-Estèphe appellation
The Merlot grape flourishes here and 52% of the vineyard is planted with Merlot, a feature which distinguishes Tronquoy-Lalande from its neighbours, where Cabernet Sauvignon predominates. Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 39%, followed by Petit Verdot (6%) and Cabernet Franc (3%). The vineyard benefits from an ideal exposure, perfectly adapted to an optimum grape maturity. The soil comprises an 8-metre-deep layer of gravel and clay. The gravel ensures good drainage, while the clay retains water at depth which the vines can tap into as necessary. The nearby Gironde estuary also acts as a temperature regulator. Under the supervision of Pierre Graffeuille, Château Tronquoy is managed by Yves Delsol, who has been with the estate for over 30 years.
