Trotanoy roughly translates as “tedious and difficult to cultivate”. While many of the left bank châteaux include a family name, the wines of Pomerol tend to describe their location or a religious symbol. There are many Croixs and Eglises, L’Evangile, Hosanna, and most famously, Petrus, Peter in Latin. I am not sure why... it may have something to do with the area being a popular stop on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, or maybe due to the early ripening Merlot, or the chance of frost. In any case, a little extra divine insurance is always a good idea! 

For this château, the name was not given in haste, as the vineyards at Trotanoy are very demanding. In the summer they can be like a car park, and in a wet winter like the western front. As they say, the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary!

The vineyards have incredibly diverse and complex soils of heavy clays and gravels, with a unique impermeable layer of iron rich soil. This terroir gives the wines an extraordinary power and depth, but also almighty tannins that sometimes need to be tamed. Something that the Moueix family have done so brilliantly ever since 1953, is making this “Rock Star” wine into one of the most sought-after estates in the world.

With 100% Merlot, Chistian Mouiex has said that Trotanoy was the only one of his wines that he sometimes mistook for Petrus. When one visits the Mouiex offices in Libourne, the Trotanoy is normally tasted as the grand finale.

The 1990 vintage was celebrated on release, but with less draconian selections that we see today. This is perhaps one of the last and finest chances to taste the wine from this vineyard in its purest form. To quote Jane Anson in 2023 (janeanson.com), she said, "The tannins are melted but still succulent. It has an incredible wine and a ton of colour still. It remains relatively young and shows just how impressive a wine Trotanoy is, with a creamy texture that makes you want to dive right in!" Or to put it a little simpler, as David Peppercorn said, "it is so rich, it is like a deep pile carpet”.