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Trotanoy 2009

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot

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Label

Tasting Notes

An absolutely prodigious wine, the dense purple 2009 Trotanoy exudes extraordinary notes of minerals, forest floor, sweet black currants and black cherry jam along with floral notes and graphite. Very full-bodied, with silky tannins, fabulous opulence and palate presence, this terrific wine should be at its best in 7-10 years and last for 20 or more. Think of it as a more concentrated, "bigger" version of the extraordinary 1998.

For the first time at Trotanoy, 500 cases of a second wine were produced from 100% Merlot from a parcel that is often excluded from the final blend.

98+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, March 2012

The 2009 Trotanoy has a broody and what feels like Cabernet-driven bouquet, well defined with touches of cigar box and forest floor. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, taut red berry fruit laced with sage, white pepper, hints of fennel and a refreshingly saline finish. This is very promising although, it does not quite possess the persistence of its peers. Sultry, almost saturnine...I guess this is Trotanoy? Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. 2025 - 2055

96
Neal Martin, vinous.com, March 2019

A deep nose of blueberries, with chocolate mousse that turns to licorice and hints of rose petal. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins that fill your mouth. But they are always soft and caressing. They last for minutes. I love the texture to this wine; it is like plush velvet. Best in 2018, but so inviting now.

97
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2012

Very dark. Juicy, savoury, complete on the nose. Very ripe with some liquorice and treacle toffee. Extremely opulent and reverberant. Lots of black notes on the palate. Exotic and with savoury dry finish. Really interesting wine. Dense and almost tarry but without the drying tannins on the finish sometimes associated with that character. Well done! Very long and satisfying. But dramatic. No prisoners' style of wine. Date tasted 30th March 2010. Drink 2018-2032.

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2010

We do not have first hand allocations of this Chateau but hope to have small quantities later in the campaign. 97% Merlot. A deep colour for a Moueix wine. Wonderful richness of damson and blackberry fruit. Round and fat but impeccable balance. Chocolate and crushed blackcurrants. Powerful, yet subtle. Younger vines here are now mature and Trotanoy is back on top form, best since the 1990.

96
Farr Vintners, April 2010

This sports a dark, chewy side for now, with overt charcoal and roasted apple wood notes, along with plenty of smoldering tobacco flavors. The core is still a bit chunky as well, with roasted fig, blackberry paste and steeped black currant fruit. But the underlying structure is refined, despite its density, and the finish is very long and purely rendered. Best from 2018 through 2035. From France.-J.M.

98
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Insider (Vol 8, 3), January 2012

The nose is enriched by ripe black plums, all sweet and lush. On the start of the palate there is the same richness of fruit but it is nicely balanced by fresher black cherry and bramble all adding to the complexity. It is seamless, lovely and long, layers of flavour adding excitement. Drink 2020-2045.

92/95
Derek Smedley MW, April 2010

The J-P Moueix tasting was of a very high standard this year, but this was the exceptional wine for me. It's very deeply coloured, showing rich, sumptuous aromas of coffee bean, plum and blackberry. The palate is beautifully structured, even at this young age, with lovely balance between tannins, oak, acidity and fruit. An exceptional Pomerol . 20+ years

99
Tim Atkin MW, April 2010

Deep colour. Intense. Firm but refined tannins. Caressing attack, exceptional fruit then great persistence on the finish. Trademark minerally freshness provides balance. Drink 2020-2045.

18.5
James Lawther MW, Decanter.com, April 2010
Read more tasting notes...

I don't know what the 1961 Trotanoy tasted like in its youth, but the 2009 unquestionably surpasses the 1982 (which was the finest effort since the 1961) and eclipses anything made since. By far the greatest Trotanoy of my professional career, the 2009 boasts a dense plum/purple color as well as a meaty, earthy nose buttressed by enormous quantities of black fruits, cherries, and spice. Abundant glycerin, viscosity, purity, and elegance are all part of this massive, exuberant, powerful Trotanoy. One of the most prodigious wines of the vintage, it should come into its own in 8-10 years, and last 30-40 years thereafter. (Tasted once.) Drink 2018-2058.

Robert Parker added an asterisk to this wine score to signify that it is a wine he considers has the finest potential of all the offerings he has ever tasted from this estate in nearly 32 years of barrel tasting samples in Bordeaux.

97/100
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188), April 2010

Tasted at the Trotanoy vertical in Hong Kong, the 2009 Trotanoy has long been one of the standout Pomerols in what was a fecund year for the appellation. This bottle reaffirmed previous reviews, although the aromatics were perhaps a little more immediate with blackberry, roasted chestnut and truffles, just a touch of glycerin, all delivered with fabulous precision. The oak is more assimilated on the palate that still feels succulent. But, look a little further and there is real backbone cloaked by all that fruit, plus there is awe-inspiring persistence on the finish that just lacquers the mouth. Stupendous! Tasted November 2016.
Drink Date 2022 - 2060

97
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (231), June 2017

Tasted at JP Moueix. This has a super-concentrated nose with vibrant black fruits, black cherries, a touch of graphite and smoke, billowing with aeration. Very well defined and controlled. Hints of Xmas cake developing with time. The palate is full-bodied with thick, almost chewy tannins, but exquisite balance and harmony, this represents a Trotanoy that wants to make a big impression...and it does. Rounded, intense black, earthy/clayey fruit towards the finish that has immense persistency. Gargantuan! Tasted April 2010.

96/98
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2010

From Robert Parker's Hong Kong Tasting, 8th Nov 2011:
Aromas of green and black olives with hints of dried dark fruits. Then cocoa undertones. Full bodied with lots of super fine and silky tannins and a long caressing finish. It is very subdued now. Very pretty. Try after 2020.

95
James Suckling, Wine Advocate, November 2011

A nose of dark chocolate and crushed raspberry evolves to blackberry and ripe raspberry. Full-bodied, with chewy and powerful tannins that leave a rich and mouthpuckering finish. This is a big and powerful Trot. Wow. Haven't tasted a Trot like this in decades.

97/100
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, April 2010
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.