The focus and polish are so enticing, reminding me of a seamless piece of the finest cashmere. Medium to full body with blackberry, tapenade and dark-chocolate character. A hint of salt at the end. 100% merlot.

The 2023 Trotanoy is one of the most elegant Trotanoys in recent memory. I especially admire its svelte, vertical personality. There's plenty of Trotanoy energy, but the 2023 is not as imposing as most recent vintages have been. Dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, mocha and pomegranate all build beautifully with a bit of time in the glass.

The 2023 Trotanoy is showing brilliantly wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries rose petals baking chocolate spices and pencil shavings followed by a medium to full-bodied layered and elegantly muscular palate that's rich dense and powerful while remaining unusually sensual and harmonious for the standards of an estate that can sometimes produce hulking monolithic wines. Concentrated and penetrating it's an especially strong performer this year.

The 2023 Trotanoy was picked September 7 to 19. This sample was curiously reticent on the nose. Usually Trotanoy comes out and shows it means business yet here it demands coaxing and only reluctantly offers brambly black fruit and black truffle shavings. The palate is medium-bodied framed by beautifully chiseled tannins. Very precise and focused. Here Trotanoy steps up a gear and it delivers an exquisitely tensile symmetric finish. Maybe the nose had just closed down on the day of my visit? I'll be prudent for now but this could merit a much higher score if the aromatics coalesce and gain intensity.

100% Merlot. Cask sample. Dark-fruit aromas. Full and solidly built, the tannins firm and persistent giving a dynamic of power on the finish. Long. (JL)