Château La Mondotte is owned by the Counts von Neipperg, an aristocratic family that also owns Clos de l’Oratoire and Château Canon-la-Gaffeliere, all in St.-Emilion. The family purchased the estates in 1971 but it wasn’t until the 1980s that they began improvements at La Mondotte, which is an 11-acre limestone vineyard with legendary terroir. By the mid-1990s La Mondotte was earning high praise from collectors and reviewers. Robert M. Parker Jr. rated the 1997 at 97 pts, and more recent vintages have also been widely acclaimed. La Mondotte is sometimes referred to as a "garagiste" wine because it is extremely high quality, produced in small amounts, and is classified only by its Appellation d’Origine Controlee, which is St.-Emilion. Vineyards are planted to 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, with vines that are on average 45 years old. About 9,500 bottles are produced each year.