Castle Trotanoy - Pomerol 2014

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe3/31/2017

The 2014 Trotanoy had (que surprise!) closed down on the nose compared to its JP Moueix stablemates. A few swirls of the glass and it reveals very precise, mineral-soaked black fruit laced with black truffle and subtle sous-bois aromas. It soon gathers momentum and the aromas were gaining more and more intensity after five minutes. The palate is outstanding. There is brilliant structure here, immense and almost staggering purity, incredible focus and tension with an electrifying spiciness on the finish. Best Pomerol of the vintage? The only thing wrong with that last sentence is the question mark at the end.

Jamessuckling.com

97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/16/2017

Spellbinding aromas of flowers such as lilacs and honeysuckle with strawberries and blackberries. Full-bodied, super tight and polished with wonderful finesse and length. Seamless, fine tannins give this endless mouthfeel. Drink in 2022.

Vinous

95 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe2/6/2017

A dense, powerful wine, the 2014 Trotanoy wraps around the palate with serious intensity. The flavors are dark and boldly sketched, with plenty of earth-driven undertones that add complexity and nuance. In a vintage that produced so many wines that speak to finesse rather than power, Trotanoy retains its signature broad shoulders and breadth. It will be at least 10-15 years before the 2014 is ready to drink. Readers can look forward to a long drinking window of pure pleasure beyond that. 95+

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe1/11/2017

Le Point

17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/21/2015

Fruits noirs, prune, épices, bouche garnie, épicée, dense, poivrée, bonne longueur, tension et finesse. 

Vinous

92-95 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2015

A massively endowed wine, the 2014 Trotanoy hits the palate with serious depth and intensity. Dark cherry, plum, smoke and new leather are some of the many shades of nuances that flesh out in the glass. The overall feeling is one of breadth, power and resonance, all signatures of this site. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2014 Trotanoy is likely to require at least 10-15 years to start showing and will last well beyond that. Today, though, I find the style a bit monolithic, especially within the context of the other wines in the Mouiex stable.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/5/2015

Silky, smooth, soft, sensuous and velvety, with layers of sweet, fresh plum, cocoa, dark chocolate with violets in the perfume. The wine is rich, sexy and promises even more complexity with time. 94-96 Pts

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2015

The Château Trotanoy 2014 is blessed with the most inspiring bouquet with the JP Moueix stable, in no small part to its free-draining gravel soils and incline that would have been so advantageous during the wetter moments of the growing season. There are potent black fruit mixed with warm gravel mixed with black truffle, all extremely well defined and focused - a quintessential Trotanoy in many ways. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannins, layers of black truffle-tinged black and red fruit that steadily build towards that compelling tobacco-tinged finish. In 2014, Trotanoy is a testament to propitious terroir, yet what might distinguish this from other vintages is that it feels more approachable, so its brilliance will hopefully be available to those less inclined to wait 20+ years! It constitutes one of the finest Right Bank wines of 2014, a Trotanoy of authority and breeding.

Asian Palate

91-93 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2015

This is a complex, quite shy Trotanoy that combines delicacy with fresh lifted flavors The layered flavors of fresh herbs, earth and velvety tannins are gentle and restrained at the moment. This is a wine to cellar and follow over the next decade or two.

Decanter.com

17,75 / 20

byJames Lawther MWthe4/17/2015

JP Moueix's leading light. Expressive red fruit nose - cherry and raspberry notes. More beguiling than usual at this stage. Juicy fruit on the palate. Long, firm and constructed. Fine but firm tannins. Poised. Drink: 2022-2035 (92)

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/14/2015

Dark crimson. Lighter nose than some vintages. Very fruity with a rich undertow that almost disguises the tannins. Definitely a lighter wine than usual. Sinewy and sort of aggressively Moueix style! It may take on flesh and may just be a dark horse. The spread on the finish is very impressive. A bit green and sinewy. 

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/10/2015

This is extremely long and concentrated with incredible depth of fruit and structure. Long and chewy. Shows excellent potential.

timatkin.com

95 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/7/2015

René Gabriel

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/1/2015

Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Frische, dunkle, grosse Pflaumen im ausladenden Ansatz, Tabaknuancen, florale Züge, Gewürznelken und Lorbeer. Er zeigt eine bemerkenswerte Tiefe, die Terroirexpression kommt somit erst im zweiten Ansatz. Samtiger Gaumen, die mittlere Adstringenz verbindet sich mit der Zunge, das Extrakt hat eine schöne, pfeffrige Note, im Finale kommt dann seine Klasse erst richtig zum Vorschein. Dies durch seine parfümierte Art von Lakritze, Rauch und ganz dunklem Malz. Nicht zu unterschätzen. In einer Dekade könnte dies der beste Pomerol sein und somit wäre er dann mit den zu erwartenden 19/20 ziemlich einsam an der Spitze. 18/20 2024 – 2055

Wine Enthusiast

95 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/1/2015

94–96. Barrel Sample. Ripe and smoky, this is a generous, full-bodied wine. Its structure is buried deep in the powerful ripe berry and plum fruits. It is destined for richness, opulence and power in the future.

Wine Spectator

95-98 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/30/2015

Reserved today, with red currant, raspberry and blackberry fruit that is pure and
racy, buttressed by charcoal and bramble notes. The finish picks up steam, with
ganache, tobacco and smoldering iron accents and a great sanguine echo.