Wine Advisor
Trotanoy 2008
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
One of the superstars of the vintage, the 2008 Trotanoy is a wine that transcends the vintage. Typically, this is not one of the more lush, sexy wines of Pomerol, but rather a muscular, masculine effort, and that’s the case in 2008. A deep purple color is followed by copious amounts of red and black fruit, earth, cedar and forest floor notes. The wine reveals a full-bodied texture, phenomenal concentration for a 2008, plenty of sweet tannin and a terrific finish. While it was surprisingly approachable, it will benefit from several years of cellaring and last 20-25 years. Bravo!
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 2008 Trotanoy has an attractive bouquet with engaging clarity and purity: raspberry preserve, wild strawberry, a trace of something almost medicinal just below the surface. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and a crisp line of acidity, subtle notes of cedar and tar infusing the red berry fruit with a composed, structured finish with plenty of freshness and vigor. Classic in style, well crafted and sure to give another two decades of pleasure, this is a stupendous Trotanoy that is up there with the 2009 and 2010 . Yes, it's that good and in fact, it kept on improving as it opened in the glass. Tasted December 2016.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The greatest Trotanoy since 1998, 1982 and 1961? I always thought the 1998 was the modern day reference for this estate after 1982, but the amazing 2008 appears to be even denser and richer with higher, yet even sweeter tannin. It should prove to be a monumental wine as well as a legend in the making. Its inky/ruby/purple color is followed by a sensational bouquet of liquid earth intermixed with exceptional quantities of red and black fruits as well as hint of ink. Very dense, full-bodied, muscular, and massive, but in spite of some impressive grip and tannin, everything is gorgeously integrated because of the extraordinarily long maceration period of the grapes on the vine. Full-bodied and phenomenally concentrated with a prodigious sweetness and layered mouthfeel, this is unquestionably one of the vintage’s superstars. It should evolve for three decades or more. Kudos to Christian Moueix and his new oenologist, Eric Murisasco.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at JP Moueix, the Trotanoy 2008 has a surprisingly voluptuous, generous bouquet with dark cherries, soy, black plum, honey and faint touch of wild mint. Good definition and complexity. The palate is full-bodied with very firm tannins, great length and breadth to this wine, with blackberry, raspberry, a touch of tar, sage and rosemary. Once again, there is a lot of dry extract, but this Trotanoy has fabulous balance and harmony with a very long, slightly saline finish. It reminds me of the superlative 1998 in some ways. Drink 2015-2035+ Tasted October 2010.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
En primeur barrel sample. A deep garnet core with purple tints. The nose is very backward at first, dense black fruits, raspberry, a touch of oyster shell, very well defined. The palate is full-bodied, incredibly powerful with a huge structure. This is a long-term Trotanoy that lingers in the mouth, but a little sulky at this stage. Leviathan. Tasted April 2009.
Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata
Very dark red. Complex aromas of violet, blackcurrant, chocolate, smoke and minerals. Brooding and deep, with concentrated flavors of Black Mission fig, minerals and game framed by a powerful spine of acids and tannins. Magically mouthcoating and very persistent, with huge but polished tannins giving this wine a classic iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove impression. An outstanding Trotanoy: Jean-Claude Berrouet told me it's Moueix's best wine of the year, along with Petrus, and I couldn't agree more.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2008 Trotanoy is a ferociously backward Pomerol that did not engage at Farr’s horizontal. Another bottle served over lunch that had undergone a long decanting was far more representative. It has a gorgeous bouquet with raspberry and menthol, a little dark chocolate and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with ample freshness and vigor although it clearly demands a long aeration to really click into fifth gear. This is a multi-dimensional Trotanoy that probably needs another couple of years in bottle. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 10-Year On tasting.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Full, deep red-ruby. Brown spices, milk chocolate and minerals complicate intense dark berry, black fig and plum aromas. Sweet, lush and broad on entry but with firm acidity giving the wine a light touch, then multilayered and opulent in the middle, with unctuous dark fruit, coffee and earth flavors. Finishes ripely tannic, smooth and powerful. This extremely impressive Trotanoy is quite accessible already but has the stuffing to age well and improve for another 20+ years. Super wine.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2008 Trotanoy is a ferociously backward Pomerol that did not engage at Farr’s horizontal. Another bottle served over lunch that had undergone a long decanting was far more representative. It has a gorgeous bouquet with raspberry and menthol, a little dark chocolate and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with ample freshness and vigor although it clearly demands a long aeration to really click into fifth gear. This is a multi-dimensional Trotanoy that probably needs another couple of years in bottle. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 10-Year On tasting.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
This is very muscular for the vintage, with blueberries, minerals, flowers and stones. Full bodied and powerful with beautiful rich tannins and a long, long finish. So much going on. Let it go for five or six years.
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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