2018 Trotanoy Red Bordeaux Blend

2018 Trotanoy

From the critics:

100 JS

100 JD

99 RP

99 AG

97 DEC

Super nose of dried blueberry, black plum, walnut, myrrh and sandalwood. Lavender, violet, and chocolate, too. Ripe with wood now, but fresh. It’s full-bodied with firm, ultra fine tannins. Lots of dark spice is interlaced with the ripe fruit, giving this complex, perfumed character. Muscular, long and seamless with incredible depth and concentration. Reminds me of the great 2009, but this is better with more structure. Amazing wine. This is 100% merlot. Try from 2027.

James Suckling | 100 JS

Another heavenly Pomerol in the vintage, the 2018 Château Trotanoy checks in as 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in (I suspect) lots of new French oak (although it’s certainly not apparent). Revealing a dense purple hue as well as a smorgasbord-like bouquet of blackcurrants, dried flowers, cured meats, violets, tobacco, and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a sexy, seductive texture, building yet sweet tannins, and just a rich, concentrated, yet flawless profile on the palate that’s already impossible to resist. Nevertheless, a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and this magical elixir is going to evolve for 40 years or more.

Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JD

The 2018 Trotanoy is composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal a jaw-dropping perfume of Black Forest cake, black raspberries, blackberry pie and kirsch, followed by hints of cast-iron pan, violets, woodsmoke, Chinese five spice and eucalyptus, with a waft of tree bark. The full-bodied palate explodes with exotic spice and mineral fireworks, grounded by a concentrated, black and red berry preserves core and framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing with epic length and depth. It will need a good five years in bottle to tame some of the youthfully overt, showy fruit and allow the mineral and earth nuances to emerge, then it should easily cellar another 35 years or more.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 99 RP

The 2018 Trotanoy is a bold, powerful wine. In this vintage, some of the imposing structure that is such a Trotanoy signature has been replaced by super-expressive aromatics and striking detail. Dried herbs, iron, gravel and crushed rose petals all lend gorgeous savory nuance to a core of potent red berry fruit. Trotanoy is a Pomerol for those who can be patient. The 2018, though, is extraordinarily beautiful right out of the gate.

Antonio Galloni | 99 AG

This stood out en primeur and it does again in bottle (I also tasted it in between at a Decanter Fine Wine Encounter), more than holding its own over ageing. There is just so much to sink your teeth into: a ton of textured blackberry and bilberry fruits, with cocoa pods and saffron spice, giving a clue as to the warmth of the vintage, but still shot through with fresh acidity. Young and curled, this needs time. Drinking Window 2026 - 2048.

Decanter | 97 DEC

This is a great estate performing at its best. In this latest release, massive tannins give black-plum fruits concentration and layers of spice and licorice flavors. The wine is set for long-term aging and certainly should not be touched before 2027.

Wine Enthusiast | 96 WE

Rich, with a velvety feel to the mix of crushed plum and steeped fig and boysenberry fruit. Lots of dried anise, tobacco, charcoal and black tea curl around the finish, where a graphite spine is deeply imbedded. Well-structured for the cellar too. Best from 2023 through 2038. 1,375 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 95 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	Red Bordeaux Blend : The inhabitants of the Bordeaux region of France have been cultivating wine-grapes for thousands of years. Ancient Roman ruins litter the vineyards from Saint Emilion to Graves where the art of blending Bordeaux varietals has been practiced and perfected over a very long history. Bordeaux’s climate, terroir and soils, though varied, provide the optimal growing conditions for the red grape varietals planted in the region. Rarely listed on the labels as “blend,” the red wines of Bordeaux are perhaps the most artfully designed and celebrated in the world. The calculated art of blending the native Bordeaux varietals is impressively accomplished in the most famous winegrowing region in the world. The phrase Bordeaux Blend which seems to have been coined by British wine merchants in the 19th Century relates as much to wines made from the blend as to the grape variety combination itself. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and occasionally Carmenere are the lead characters in the creation of Red Bordeaux Blends. Each plays a part in their own fashion and implemented in various combinations and percentages in each appellation within Bordeaux. Red Bordeaux Blends are majorly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, roughly making up 90% of all Bordeaux Blends. Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec (occasionally Carmenere) are also important components and vital to the production of the region’s red wines. For simplicity, the winegrowing region of Bordeaux can be divided into three main appellations producing Red Bordeaux Blends; the Left Bank (Medoc), Right Bank and Pessac-Leognan (Graves). The Left Bank has a terroir comprised of a wide variety of gravel, stones, sand, limestone and clay soils on a natural terrain of gentle slopes. This sets the stage perfectly for the production of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the dominant grape of the Left Bank. For example, Chateau Lafite (Paulliac) is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Right Bank is dominated by clay and limestone with sand and gravel, but the clay in the Right Bank is distinctly its own and adds to the health, growth and vitality of the vines of the varietals grown here. Right Bank wines are typically 80% Merlot-based, which are often denser, richer and mature earlier than those of the Left Bank (with exceptions – Petrus for example). Merlot is a vital component to Pomerol winegrowing and making. Cabernet Franc also plays a major role in the Right Bank, most notably, in Saint Emilion, where the infamous vineyards of Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval Blanc are planted to 55% and 52% Cabernet Franc, respectively. Chateaux that produce wines with a majority of Cabernet Franc are considered “old school” producers, but have perfected the use of Cabernet Franc, which was originally used as a blending grape. Pessac-Leognan (Graves) enjoys a temperate climate, natural hygrometry influenced by the ocean, and has a terroir composed of gravelly soil over a clay subsoil on sloping, hilly terrain. Natural drainage due to the hilly terrain as well as the gravelly soil structure are perfectly attuned to the Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine, which prospers under these conditions. Pessac reaps the benefits of having the terroir of both the Left and Right Bank as it contains gravel and clay. The clay sub-soil allows the growth and success of Merlot, as well as Cabernet Franc. It is home to the only First Growth not in the Medoc. The 50-hectare vineyard of Haut Brion is planted to 45.4% Merlot, 43.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.7% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The percentage of Petit Verdot and Malbec may be lesser in quantity, but not in quality. They are vital to the region’s creation of Red Bordeaux Blends. The combination of Bordeaux varietals is legendary in the region, around the world and has influenced winegrowers worldwide to plant and vinify wines which resemble those of Red Bordeaux Blends.
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.
Subregion	Pomerol

Producer	Chateau Trotanoy : Chateau Trotanoy takes its name from “trop ennui,” which, when loosely translated means “too much to bother with,” or “too worrisome.” However, this can’t be further from the truth. The history of Trotanoy dates back to 1761 when the property was first planted by the Giraud family, who were very successful landowners in the Right Bank. The Chateau built by the Girauds still stands today and remains a symbol for the quality that is produced in the nearby vineyards. Even at that time, Trotanoy was well respected and considered to be one of the top wines in the entire appellation of Pomerol. Over the years the Giraud family would relinquish ownership to the Pecresse family but for only a short time as Jean-Pierre Mouiex would come into ownership of Trotanoy in 1953. Though the estate had been considered one of the Premier Crus of Pomerol since the end of the eighteen century, Mouiex would bring a modern acceptance, while allowing the natural terroir and former success of the chateau to continue. The 7.2-hectare vineyard rests on a gently sloping hill that faces the West. The terroir is incredibly unique as the soil here is an extremely dense mixture of clay and gravel which tends to solidify as it dries out after rainfall and becomes a concrete-like hardness. As aforementioned the name given to the estate is due to this difficult and unforgiving soil structure, which brings understanding to the name Trotanoy or “too wearisome” to cultivate. Though this natural obstacle creates hardship, it is considered prized soil and Trotanoy has never failed to prosper, delivering wines that are naturally profound, complex, and richly-concentrated with outstanding aging potential. Trotanoy’s wine possesses a deep color and a dense, powerful nose, repeated on the palate with the addition of creamy, dark chocolate notes and a singular concentration of flavor owed to its very old vines. The composition of varietals is typical for the Pomerol appellation; 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Despite its large percentage of Merlot (ignorantly believed to be a soft varietal and unable to age) top vintages will easily age and evolve for 40-50 years or longer. In 2009, a second wine, L’Esperance de Trotanoy was introduced and quickly adopted the flagship’s personality. It is fruit-forward and approachable at a young age, but maintains the depth and complexity of the flagship and is an expression of its unique terroir. Annual production for Trotanoy is 2,250 cases, while the second wine produces a miniscule 500 cases. Merlot has flourished in Pomerol and has become quite evident in the vineyards of Trotanoy, where the challenging soil gives birth to an outstanding wine that has been continuously cultivated to perfection and has been recognized world-wide since its inception. It remains a well-respected and idolized estate to this day.

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2018 Trotanoy

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