Trotanoy 2013

Only 1,000 cases of the 2013 Trotanoy were produced (about half of the usual production). One of the stars as well as a major sleeper of the vintage, it is an atypically big, rich, full-boned effort with enough tannin and depth to require 2-3 years of cellaring. There is lots of purity as well as a strong, underlying, earthy, iron-like component intermixed with plenty of black cherry and black currant fruit, and hints of licorice and truffles. This impressive medium to full-bodied wine is atypically concentrated and rich for the vintage. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.

The 2013 Trotanoy appears to be maturing nicely in bottle. What I appreciate is the precision on the nose. No, it is not as complex or as intense as other vintages, yet there is admirable detail here, crushed stone mixed with redcurrant and blackberry. The palate is medium-bodied and clearly has commendable depth as it gently grips the mouth. There is substance here, more body if less roundness vis-a-vis the 2013 La Fleur Petrus with a slight edginess towards the finish and a hint of black truffle and smoke on the aftertaste. This should be considered as a success for the vintage and I can see it giving a couple of decades of drinking pleasure.

The Trotanoy is slightly deeper in colour than the other Pomerol crus from JP Moueix. The nose is nicely focused with ample red berry fruit interlaced with scents of tobacco and a hint of orange rind. It is not an oppressive nose like Trotanoy can occasionally be at this stage (and that is not implied pejoratively.) The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins that express Trotanoy's masculine DNA. This is a serious Trotanoy, a little introverted towards the finish, but with very good persistency. Whilst I had to banish memories of the startling 2009 tasted just 4 weeks earlier, this should still turn out to be a fine Trotanoy.