1970 Trotanoy
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Tasting notes
Although I have tasted the 1970 Trotanoy on a dozen or so occasions, this is the first time in magnum. It remains youthful in appearance with only minor bricking. The bouquet is wonderful, featuring dark berry fruit, black truffle, singed leather, undergrowth and just a touch of the Japanese green tea element I observed before. The palate is medium-bodied with finely sculpted tannins. The 1970 is just a little rustic, yet it coheres beautifully in the glass with hints of green olive toward the finish. This is superb. Well-kept larger formats still have much to offer. Tasted at the Pomerol dinner at Cornus in London.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The 1970 Trotanoy is a wine that I have encountered several times and – caveat emptor – it is variable and prone to TCA issues. This bottle initially sports a metallic note on the nose, although it dissipates to reveal engaging scents of dark berry fruit, undergrowth and the hint of traditional Japanese green tea that I have noted before. Perhaps it does not quite deliver the precision of the best bottles I have come across. The palate is structured and tannic – a “serious” Trotanoy that is determined to impress despite a touch of rusticity. This is a broad-shouldered, rather stocky Trotanoy with impressive depth and just a hint of black olive on the long finish. It will not improve with cellaring but it remains a great Pomerol that has tasted so well for almost half a century. Tasted at Fook Lam Moon in Hong Kong.
The 1970 Trotanoy can be prone to TCA issues, and I suffered a run of tainted bottles until this pristine example served in Bordeaux. One immediately discerns a deep garnet core, while the first sniff is like hearing the thundering of horses in the distance, presaging a spellbinding bouquet of iodine, macerated dark cherries, a hint of eucalyptus and with time, Japanese green tea (the traditional, “stand your spoon it type”). The palate is full-bodied with a velvety smooth texture, powerful and, I think, with more substance than the impressive 1971. The 1970 Trotanoy has broader shoulders, perhaps not quite the same level of elegance but an enormous length on the opulent, almost marmalade-like finish. There is a faint tang of black olives lingering on the aftertaste. This is a stunning Trotanoy…with still some way to go. Tasted June 2011.
The 1970 Trotanoy can be prone to TCA issues, and I suffered a run of tainted bottles until this pristine example served in Bordeaux. One immediately discerns a deep garnet core, while the first sniff is like hearing the thundering of horses in the distance, presaging a spellbinding bouquet of iodine, macerated dark cherries, a hint of eucalyptus and with time, Japanese green tea (the traditional, “stand your spoon it type”). The palate is full-bodied with a velvety smooth texture, powerful and, I think, with more substance than the impressive 1971. The 1970 Trotanoy has broader shoulders, perhaps not quite the same level of elegance but an enormous length on the opulent, almost marmalade-like finish. There is a faint tang of black olives lingering on the aftertaste. This is a stunning Trotanoy…with still some way to go. Tasted June 2011. Jun 2017, www.robertparker.com
About the producer
Château Trotanoy was one of the first recognised Premier Cru sites on the Pomerol plateau, with records dating back to the late 1700s. Even back in the nineteenth century it was seen as the best site in Pomerol second only to Vieux Château Certan.