Pristine fruit of strawberries and cherries with some spices such as nutmeg. Plenty of sandalwood too. Medium- to full-bodied, this has very tight tannins in the finish that hold the whole thing together. Wow at the end! A dynamic young red. 96% merlot and 4% cabernet franc. Best after 2030.
A big, muscular 2022 (which is what this château tends to produce), the 2022 Château Trotanoy is based on 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from an incredible terroir on the upper plateau in Pomerol. Black cherries, roasted herbs, graphite, iron, and hints of chocolate all define the aromatics, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, concentrated, structured mouthfeel, serious tannins, and outstanding length. It's legendary stuff, but it's not for the instant gratification crowd. It actually reminds me slightly of the 1998. Hide bottles for a decade if you can, and it will have 3-4 decades of overall longevity.
There's some bass thumping in the form of black currant and blackberry reduction notes coiled tightly within a cast iron frame. Sweet tobacco, alder and chestnut accents create a seductive backdrop on the finish, which is redolent of smoldering earth. Seriously structured and for the long haul. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2028 through 2045. From France.
This has come through on its En Primeur promise of power, seduction and excitement. While it's still a little compact and tense, the detail has become more focussed and each element is presented with so much finesse. A dark and heady nose filled with blackcurrants and liquorice. Layered and firm, this has a well built structure - fine tannins support rich and dark fruit with spiced edges but underpinned by a fresh mint, cooling acidity that keeps it straight and focused. Intense but chiseled and delicately muscular. Such a captivating wine that will have a very long life.
TWI
97pts
The Wine Independent
This is 96% Merlot and just 4% Cabernet Franc, the Moueix family never having leaned into Cabernet Franc in the way much of the right bank has. Absolutely classic Trotanoy on the nose of the 2022 vintage, all dark gravel mixed with toasted black fruits, swirled with a minty freshness that contrasts beautifully with the intensity and concentration of the fruit. The palate follows on in a surprisingly juicy and accessible style, with dark and savoury fruits, dressed in toast and tobacco, draped over a very fine core of rich, ripe and tightly knit tannins. Polished, with a savoury, tannin-grained finish, and very long too, this is a classic Trotanoy that is going to deliver a lot of pleasure.
The 2022 Trotanoy is delineated and focused on the nose with intense black fruit, liquorice and light cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, real weight and heft here, with dark chocolate infusing the black fruit on the finish where the oak does threaten to obscure the fruit. Give this plenty of time in bottle... it is Trotanoy after all. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.
#80 in The Enthusiast 100, 2025. This wine, with its rich tannins and powerful structure is impressive. It has great promise with its black chocolate aroma and solid black fruits. Drink from 2028.
The 2022 Trotanoy is very ripe and muscular, offering up aromas of sweet cassis, dark chocolate, baked plums and creamy new oak, followed by a full-bodied, firm and tannic palate, concluding with a heady, raisin-inflected finish. This powerful, sun-kissed Pomerol carries the biggest structural payload in the Mouiex portfolio this year.