Château Trotanoy 2017 is a 100% Merlot Pomerol from a 7.2-hectare vineyard on the Pomerol plateau, owned by the Moueix family since 1953. The estate’s identity is tightly linked to its soils—roughly half gravel and half deep black clay over an iron-rich layer—which helps explain the wine’s consistent combination of density, structure, and freshness. Vinification is carried out in small concrete vats, followed by élevage in oak barrels.
In 2017, the wine drew a run of excellent reviews, led by James Suckling’s 99-point score. He calls it “an incredible triumph for the vintage,” praising a “very pure nose” and a “very full, plush and intense core,” and suggests drinking from 2023. Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider) is similarly emphatic at 98 points, calling it “a star of the vintage” and “a stunner,” even if his “pure decadence” and “velveteen rabbit” phrasing is more playful than precise.
Several top critics emphasize that this is not just about richness. Wine Spectator (97 points) describes “a lush, velvety Pomerol” with raspberry, plum, and cassis, plus tea, sandalwood, mineral, and bergamot nuances, finishing “very long and finely beaded,” and recommends 2022–2040. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (97 points) notes it can be “stubborn and broody” aromatically at first, but underneath is serious architecture: “built like a brick house,” with “firm, grainy tannins,” “epic length,” and “fantastic tension.”
Jeb Dunnuck (95 points) frames it as “classic, elegant, focused,” but with “more fruit and texture than most,” recommending 4–6 years of bottle age and projecting two decades of strong drinking. Wine Enthusiast (95 points) also flags “depth and power of ripe Merlot” and clear aging potential, advising patience from 2023.
