The 2001 Trotanoy is a vintage that I tasted regularly in its youth, but had not encountered for five years. It has a very appealing nose of loamy earth/mulch-infused tarry black fruit, touches of mint coming through with aeration. The medium-bodied palate delivers a mixture of red and black fruit, a liberal dash of cracked black pepper, and some clove and sea salt. Showing very good complexity, this is harmonious and focused, albeit just a little rustic toward the grippy finish. It’s less broody than in its youth, but I would still afford it 3–5 more years in bottle.

(95% merlot and 5% cabernet franc; 3.71 pH; IPT 79; 13.3% alcohol): Bright ruby-red. Ripe but still inexpressive on the nose, offering delicate aromas of red fruits, violet, crushed stone, menthol and wild herbs. Silky and round on entry, then rich and suave in the mid-palate, with a hint of smoky minerality nicely complementing the pure red and black fruit flavors. This is a marvelously balanced wine of great breed and purity. Finishes long, sweet and bright, with very smooth tannins and less of the earthy, leathery qualities found in some other Trotanoy vintages. The 2001 vintage saw a large crop but down slightly from the levels of 2000 and 1999. The growing season featured a wet winter, a fine spring, a dreary July, a warm August (though not as hot as 2000) and a cool but dry September, with low rainfall in August and September. "The 2001 is a very pure, refined and classy expression of merlot--what Bordeaux can do so well," according to Jean-Claude Berrouet.

Bright ruby-red. Noble, highly perfumed aromas of liqueur-like red fruits, blackberry, blueberry, flowers and licorice. Lush, sweet and dense, with lovely verve and strong minerality. Very fresh and perfumed but also full and deep, finishing with chewy, ripe tannins and very good length.

This virile, muscular offering’s dense plum/garnet color is followed by aromas of saddle leather, undergrowth, and black fruits. Made in a brooding, medium-bodied, backward style for the vintage, it possesses good weight and richness, firm tannin, and a hint of truffles. Less charming and developed than La Fleur-Petrus, this powerful, structured 2001 requires 2-3 years of cellaring, and should keep for 12-15.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #153, Jun 2004)