Chateau Trotanoy 2016

DECANTER: "Straight off you see this is a vintage with big shoulders and textured, muscular tannic grip, not giving as much today as it will be in another five years time, but one that makes you happy to wait. This is expressive and nuanced with subtle kicks of spice and cut herbs alongside the concentrated cassis and graphite. Rich with a ripe round mouthfeel, there is alcohol here but it is balanced by so many other qualities that you barely notice. Great stuff. These were tasted blind but it stood out heads and shoulders above the rest. Clearly an exceptional bottle in a great vintage. Drinking Window 2024 - 2050"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Composed of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Trotanoy is characteristically a little closed at this youthful stage, slowly unfurling to reveal compelling notions of chocolate-covered cherries, black raspberries and mulberries with touches of pencil lead, crushed rocks, underbrush and chargrill plus a fragrant waft of star anise. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and invigorating freshness supporting the densely packed, muscular fruits, finishing very long and mineral laced."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A structured, powerful wine, the 2016 Château Trotanoy checks in as 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc from one of the great sites in Pomerol, a 7-hectare vineyard located on gravelly, black clay soils. This ruby/purple-hued effort gives up a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, blackberry and black raspberry fruits intermixed with loads of iron and crushed rock-like minerality, smoke tobacco, and graphite. It's deep, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, with sensational purity of fruit and balance as well as building tannins and structure. It's built for the long haul and needs a solid 7-8 years of bottle age, but it will keep for 3 decades or more."

JAMES SUCKLING: "There’s decadence and complexity to this young wine, which offers spellbinding dark fruit. But there are also wild mushrooms, sandalwood, blackberries and violets on the nose, not to mention black olives. Full bodied, very deep and layered. Powerful finish. Drink after 2025."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Truffles, truffles and more truffles, if you're a fan of that special scent, this is your wine! More than those earthy notes, you also find a wealth of ripe, black and red plums, cherries, flowers and spice. And that's just the appetizer. It is on the palate, with its silky, velvet drench, opulent texture where the wine really shines. Full-bodied, ling and deep, this is bottled decadence. Give it at least a decade in the cellar before popping a cork."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefdunkles Purpur mit satter Mitte. Sehr dicht verwobene, rotbeerige Nase, dahinter viel Mineralik und Anklänge an hellen Tabak und roten Pflaumen. Am sehr engmaschigen Körper mit viel Muskeln besetzt, wild und (noch) ungestüm, aufkommende Wachsnoten. Zusammen mit dem Presswein wird sich hier ein Klassikinferno entwickeln, welches für Furore sorgen wird. Im dichten, sehr langen Finale mit Preiselbeeren und Lavendel. Für die Maximalnote hat es (noch) nicht gereicht, er ist aber auf sehr gutem Weg. Einzig Geduld benötigt es dafür! In seiner Klasse der Beste!"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, attraktives schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, angenehme Edelholzwürze, etwas Nougat, Orangenzesten im Hintergrund. Gute Komplexität, angenehme Extraktsüße, elegant und kompakt, entwickelt sich gut am Gaumen, runde, integrierte Tannine, etwas Nougat und Zedernnoten im Abgang, Nuancen von Bitterschokolade im Finale."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This big, bold wine offers massive tannins and rich fruits. Dense and concentrated, it has power and ripe fruits that are balanced by acidity. It will develop impressively and be ready to drink from 2025."

WINE SPECTATOR: "A brick house, this packs in warm fig, red and black currant paste and bitter cherry compote flavors along with smoldering tobacco, singed alder and graphite notes. The finish is quite dark, with an echo of Turkish coffee lingering after the fruit finally ebbs. Among the most backward wines of the vintage. Best from 2023 through 2040."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Heady, sweet, round. Meaty and full-bodied with lots of alcohol and mass but not quite enough finesse. Hot finish. Dramatic and attention-grabbing."