Wine Advisor
Trotanoy 2004
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Deep medium red. Impressively primary aromas of cherry, mocha and sappy minerality. Juicy, spicy and firmly built if a bit youthfully medicinal, with a strong backbone supporting the flavors of red berries, spices and iron. A seriously structured, firmly tannic 2004 that will need at least four or five years of patience. Not particularly showy today, but opened out nicely with aeration, suggesting that time will bring a higher rating.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright ruby-red. Perfumed, highly complex aromas of cherry, iron, rose petal and minerals; quite Burgundian. Then lush and highly concentrated, with bright, gripping flavors of sweet red berries, iron and menthol. Wonderfully lush without being at all heavy; offers superb palate coverage. Finishes with sneaky, slowly mounting flavors that outlast the ripe, suave tannins. A great showing.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Like Certan de May, this has a beguiling nose, though more broody and backward. Blackberry, earthy and a touch of green pepper. The palate is well defined, very concentrated with a fresh, harmonious quality. Masculine, intellectual. I have not tasted many recent vintages of Trotanoy, but if they are as good as this, I must rectify that immediately. A great wine. Tasted April 2005.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A muscular effort with a robust constitution (atypical for this vintage), the deep plum/ruby-tinged 2004 exhibits scents of minerals, vitamins, black cherries, and new saddle leather. Medium-bodied with moderately high tannin as well as surprising intensity and richness, this wine will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This well-known vineyard has produced a concentrated, powerful, virile, old-styled 2004 boasting a dense plum/purple color in addition to big, chunky aromas and flavors of roasted meats, black cherries, smoke, and truffles. A medium-bodied Pomerol, it should age nicely for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
While muscular, hard tannins are cause for concern, the structured, broodingly backward 2004 Trotanoy possesses plenty of meaty black cherry, forest floor, and damp earth characteristics. If everything comes together, it may merit an outstanding score, but at present, the sharpness/astringency of the tannin is troubling. Patience will definitely be required.. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.
About the Producer
Purchased by Jean-Pierre Moueix in 1953, Château Trotanoy has been considered one of the premier crus of Pomerol since the end of the eighteenth century. The soil of Château Trotanoy is a very dense mixture of clay and gravel which tends to solidify as it dries out after rain to an almost concrete-like hardness, hence the name “Trotanoy,” or, in other words, “too wearisome” to cultivate. The Trotanoy vineyard slopes gently to the west. The soil at the highest point of exposure contains a good proportion of gravel, becoming progressively more dominated by clay as the elevation declines. Under this clay is a subsoil of red gravel and an impermeable layer of hard, iron-rich soil known as “crasse de fer.” This fascinating soil diversity brings power, depth and complexity to the wine. Trotanoy is vinified in small concrete vats, while aging takes place in oak barrels. Trotanoy is a naturally profound, complex, richly-concentrated wine with outstanding aging potential. The 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.
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