A big, muscular 2022 (which is what this château tends to produce), the 2022 Château Trotanoy is based on 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from an incredible terroir on the upper plateau in Pomerol. Black cherries, roasted herbs, graphite, iron, and hints of chocolate all define the aromatics, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, concentrated, structured mouthfeel, serious tannins, and outstanding length. It's legendary stuff, but it's not for the instant gratification crowd. It actually reminds me slightly of the 1998. Hide bottles for a decade if you can, and it will have 3-4 decades of overall longevity.

The 2022 Trotanoy is delineated and focused on the nose with intense black fruit, liquorice and light cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, real weight and heft here, with dark chocolate infusing the black fruit on the finish where the oak does threaten to obscure the fruit. Give this plenty of time in bottle... it is Trotanoy after all. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

The 2022 Trotanoy is very ripe and muscular, offering up aromas of sweet cassis, dark chocolate, baked plums and creamy new oak, followed by a full-bodied, firm and tannic palate, concluding with a heady, raisin-inflected finish. This powerful, sun-kissed Pomerol carries the biggest structural payload in the Mouiex portfolio this year.