Chateau Trotanoy Pomerol 2010

Dense and slightly chewy, this features girders of charcoal-coated grip running from start to finish, along with bay leaf, smoldering tobacco and warm tar. But don't be fooled-there's also loads of fruit, offering dark plum, blackberry and black currant notes, laced with hints of mulling spice and alder. Terrific old-school grip powers the finish, and should easily pull this through two decades in the cellar. The brick-house Pomerol of the vintage. Best from 2017 through 2040.

Tasted at the Trotanoy vertical in Hong Kong, the 2010 Trotanoy was consistent with my previous tasting notes. The bouquet, this time, was unapologetically Pomerol whereas in the past it has swayed a little towards Saint Emilion. There are still those hints of marmalade that infuse the black fruit, although there is now more mineralité emerging. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine but firm tannin. Again, the mineralité locked into this wine is at a level that I have not seen before, and the energy, the coiled-up tension on the finish is just outstanding. Is it as good as the 2009? Perhaps not quite...but, it is not far off. Tasted November 2016.

Good full red. Great depth and complexity to the aromas of raspberry, strawberry, baked bread, tobacco and black olive. Plush, sweet and remarkably mouthfilling, conveying a compelling creaminess of texture but also a magically light touch and outstanding finesse. The thick flavors of red fruits, cocoa powder, meat and forest floor are perfectly supported by very smooth but serious tannins. Finishes with great persistence. A real essence of Pomerol: one of the sexiest wines of my tastings this spring but it's hard to believe that this wine won't go through a sullen stage in the bottle.

A complex wine, exhibiting smoky tannins, rich fruit, a dark texture and concentration. Produced by the Moueix winemaking team, it feels complete with its sense of style and elegance as well as weight. Give this powerful wine many years in the cellar.