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. NM

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.

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.

The 2014 Château Trotanoy is a beautiful, incredibly sexy 2014 that offers more character, texture, and fruit than most in the vintage. This wine is medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated, yet elegant as well, with terrific notes of black cherry and darker styled fruits intermixed with loads of underbrush/damp earth, hints of truffle, and plenty of cedar. With beautiful sweetness of fruit, ripe, polished tannin, no hard edges, and again, a sexy, pleasure bent style, you can safely drink this terrific 2014 anytime over the coming two decades or more.

The 2014 Trotanoy has quite a gourmand bouquet with dried blood and truffle infusing the red fruit, a little forward for my liking. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin, robust and stocky with cranberry and strawberry fruit laced with black pepper and clove, leading to a harmonious but structured finish that will require several years in bottle. Excellent. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. - vinous.com, March 2018

Dense, featuring a loamy edge that runs throughout, while the core of crushed plum, fig and blackberry fruit plays out slowly. Licorice root and warm stone notes pervade the finish. A bit brooding, but give this time, as the lurking fresh bay, tobacco and iron elements should develop with age. JM