1959 Trotanoy

Tasted from an ex-château bottle, the ethereal 1959 Trotanoy may bring tears of joy. It sports a deep garnet/mahogany core with deep tawny rim. The nose is absolutely stunning: cloves, a touch of burnt toast, capsicum, nougat. The aromatics are constantly evolving like all great wines do. The palate is beautifully balanced, utterly harmonious with very good weight and persistence, rounded and Rubenesque like many wines from the vintage. Again a touch of cloves, dates, dark chocolate, espresso; this Trotanoy is extremely complex with a sweet reed-berried finish and great length. It will last another few years but how could anyone resist uncorking such an elixir now? Tasted May 2007.

The 1959 Trotanoy is a bottle I have only tasted on one occasion that came directly from the Moueix family. Surprisingly deep in hue, it has a riveting bouquet of red fruit infused with clove, capsicum and sweet nougat. The aromatics are mercurial and constantly evolve in the glass. The palate offers exquisite balance and poise. It's rounded and voluptuous in keeping with the vintage, with hints of dark chocolate infusing the effervescent red fruit with fabulous length and girth on the finish. The 1959 is one of the most formidable Trotanoy wines encountered in my career. Taken from the Pomerol book authored by Neal Martin.