1970 Trotanoy Bordeaux Red

1970 Trotanoy

96 RP

Featured Review

This wine has developed magnificently over the last 4-5 years. More backward, and possibly even more concentrated than the 1970 Petrus (as well as more tannic), this huge, old style, massive, thick, rich wine is crammed with concentrated, chocolatey, berry fruit, with a hint of leather, smoked meat, and licorice. The wine's opaque garnet color reveals no sign of amber. The nose is just beginning to open. The flavors are so concentrated that I am going to go out on a limb and say this may be the most concentrated Trotanoy made in the post-World War II era. I suspect this wine can still be purchased for a relatively good price. Owners should plan on drinking it between 2000-2030. One of the three greatest wines of the vintage, the 1970 Trotanoy is the finest wine made at this estate save for the extraordinary 1961 and 1945. Last tasted 6/96 Robert Parker

Robert Parker | 96 RP

(Château Trotanoy (Pomerol)) While I have long shared Edouard Moueix’s enthusiasm for the 1971 Pomerol vintage, I have to give the nod today to the 1970 Trotanoy over its counterpart from the succeeding vintage. The bouquet on the 1970 is lovely, offering up a wide open blend of black plums, black cherries, Cuban cigars, bitter chocolate, dark soil tones, gamebird and a fine topnote of black truffles. On the palate the wine is deep, full and complex, with a superb core, fine focus and grip and a very long, poised and still gently tannic finish. The 1970 Trotanoy was long bound up in its structural elements and was one of the slowest wines of this vintage to finally blossom fully, but it has done so now and is an outstanding wine. (Drink between 2018-2050)

John Gilman | 94 JG

(Trotanoy Trotanoy Red) The 1970 Trotanoy is a wine that I have encountered several times and – caveat emptor – it is variable and prone to TCA issues. This bottle initially sports a metallic note on the nose, although it dissipates to reveal engaging scents of dark berry fruit, undergrowth and the hint of traditional Japanese green tea that I have noted before. Perhaps it does not quite deliver the precision of the best bottles I have come across. The palate is structured and tannic – a “serious” Trotanoy that is determined to impress despite a touch of rusticity. This is a broad-shouldered, rather stocky Trotanoy with impressive depth and just a hint of black olive on the long finish. It will not improve with cellaring but it remains a great Pomerol that has tasted so well for almost half a century. Tasted at Fook Lam Moon in Hong Kong. (Drink between 2019-2035)

Vinous Media | 94 VM

Deep garnet-ruby; concentrated, aromatic cassis and tar nose; very rich, firm cassis flavor, with minty notes and much personality.--1970 Bordeaux horizontal. —

Wine Spectator | 91 WS

Type of Wine	Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal	Bordeaux Blend
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.