Chateau Trotanoy

Chateau Trotanoy covers 7.20 hectares (17.8 acres) on the Pomerol plateau, planted entirely to Merlot on gravel on clay and black clay on iron pan. The vineyard slopes gently to the west. The highest point carries a good proportion of gravel, and clay takes over progressively as the elevation declines; beneath the clay lie a subsoil of red gravel and an impermeable layer of hard, iron-rich soil known as crasse de fer. This soil diversity gives the wine power, depth and complexity. The vineyard divides into two parts, more gravel on one side and more clay on the other, on a plateau with an elevated peak close to 40 meters. The elevated gravel slopes make the micro-climate a bit warmer than at neighboring estates, so Trotanoy is often picked slightly before its neighbors, gravel soils first and clay soils after. The vineyard lies in one of the best-exposed areas of the plateau and was spared, in part, by the dramatic frosts of 1956. Trotanoy sits on the west side of the Pomerol plateau, not far from Petrus and Chateau Lafleur, with Le Pin to the southeast and three other Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix chateaux nearby: Chateau Latour a Pomerol, Chateau Hosanna and Chateau La Fleur-Petrus.

• 7.20 hectares (17.8 acres), 100% Merlot; soils of gravel on clay and black clay on iron pan (crasse de fer)
• Gentle western slope: more gravel at the top, more clay lower down, over a red-gravel and crasse-de-fer subsoil
• Plateau peak close to 40 meters; a warmer micro-climate than at neighboring estates means Trotanoy is often picked slightly earlier, gravel soils first
• Near Petrus and Chateau Lafleur, with three other Moueix-owned Pomerol chateaux (Latour a Pomerol, Hosanna, La Fleur-Petrus) nearby; the vineyard was spared, in part, by the 1956 frost

The Trotanoy vineyard dates to the 1760s, when the Giraud family owned it. The Girauds, successful Right Bank landowners, built the chateau that still stands on the property, and at the start of the 19th century the wine was sold as Pomerol Giraud Cru de Trotanoy. Accounts of its early standing differ: The Wine Cellar Insider ranks it among the appellation's top wines with only Vieux Chateau Certan held in higher regard, while Winedoctor, citing the early editors of Cocks et Feret, places Trotanoy just behind Petrus. Just before the 20th century the estate covered approximately 25 hectares in multiple plots; further parcels were sold off in the early 20th century, bringing it to its present size. In the mid-1940s, after World War II, the Giraud family sold Chateau Trotanoy to the Pecresse family, who held it only briefly before Jean-Pierre Moueix acquired it in 1953. Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix has been family run since 1937. Jean-Pierre Moueix (1913-2003), born in Correze, moved to Saint-Emilion with his parents following the Great Depression of 1929. In 1950 he began adding vineyards to his merchant business, starting with Chateau La Fleur-Petrus, then Chateau Magdelaine in 1952 and Chateau Trotanoy in 1953. Christian Moueix (b. 1946) joined the family business in 1970, first directing its viticultural activities, then taking on commercial responsibilities, and became President in 1991. Edouard Moueix (b. 1977) joined the company in 2003, the third generation of the family in the business.

• History traces to the 1760s under the Giraud family, who built the estate's chateau; wine sold as "Pomerol Giraud Cru de Trotanoy" from the early 19th century
• Approximately 25 hectares before the 20th century, reduced through parcel sales to its present 7.20 hectares
• Sold by the Giraud family to the Pecresse family after World War II; acquired by Jean-Pierre Moueix in 1953
• Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix, family run since 1937: Jean-Pierre Moueix (1913-2003) built the merchant and estate business; Christian Moueix (b. 1946) joined in 1970 and became President in 1991; Edouard Moueix (b. 1977) joined in 2003 as the third generation

Jean-Claude Berrouet, born in 1942, earned his oenology diploma in Bordeaux in 1962. Hired by Jean-Pierre Moueix, he directed winemaking for Petrus and other top Pomerols, Trotanoy among them, from 1964 to 2008. A 1972 Chateau Trotanoy that Berrouet made was still being tasted and discussed decades later at a dinner in Montagne-Saint-Emilion. For Christian Moueix he also worked at Dominus in Napa Valley in 1983, his first foray outside France. His son Olivier took over the winemaking at Petrus after 2008, and although officially retired, Jean-Claude Berrouet consults for properties in and out of Bordeaux. The current Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix team includes Eric Murisasco as Technical Director, Arnaud de Lamy as Estates Director, Michel Falquier as Vineyard Manager for the family estates and Laurent Descos as Cellar Master for the family estates.

• Jean-Claude Berrouet (b. 1942): oenology diploma from Bordeaux, 1962; directed winemaking for Petrus and other top Pomerols, including Trotanoy, from 1964 to 2008
• Berrouet's 1972 Chateau Trotanoy was tasted and discussed at a dinner decades later; he worked at Dominus in Napa Valley for Christian Moueix in 1983
• Berrouet's son Olivier took over at Petrus after 2008; Jean-Claude Berrouet consults in and out of Bordeaux despite official retirement
• Current family-estates team: Eric Murisasco, Technical Director; Arnaud de Lamy, Estates Director; Michel Falquier, Vineyard Manager; Laurent Descos, Cellar Master

Trotanoy's 7.20 hectares are planted entirely to Merlot. Vine age averages 35 years, with some parcels more than 60 years old that the 1956 frost did not heavily damage, and the vineyard is planted at 6,200 vines per hectare. Trotanoy is one of the last top estates in Pomerol to practice deep plowing, which helps the roots delve deeper into the soil. Two laser sorting tables have been in use since the 2009 vintage. Vinification takes place in small, temperature-controlled concrete vats of 15 to 146 hectoliters. The wine ages in 40% to 50% new French oak barrels for 18 to 20 months before bottling, with the amount of oak and time in barrel varying by vintage. In vintages before the mid-1980s, a portion of the stems often went into the fermentation vats; today the berries are completely destemmed. Average annual production is about 2,250 cases of the grand vin. Since 2009, a selection of gravel-based parcels on the north-eastern part of the estate has been dedicated to the second wine, L'Esperance de Trotanoy, which is fruit-forward and approachable after just a few years of cellaring while keeping the depth, complexity and concentration characteristic of Trotanoy's terroir. L'Esperance de Trotanoy comes from that parcel plus declassified lots not used in the grand vin and is made in limited quantities only in certain years, about 500 cases in an average vintage; it, too, is vinified in small concrete vats and aged in French oak barrels.

• 100% Merlot; average vine age 35 years, some parcels over 60 years old; 6,200 vines/hectare; one of the last top Pomerol estates to practice deep plowing
• Two laser sorting tables since the 2009 vintage; vinification in temperature-controlled concrete vats (15 to 146 hectoliters)
• Aged 18 to 20 months in 40% to 50% new French oak, varying by vintage; fully destemmed today, though some stems went into the vats before the mid-1980s
• Average annual production about 2,250 cases of the grand vin; L'Esperance de Trotanoy debuted 2009, about 500 cases in an average year, not made every vintage

The estate describes Trotanoy as a naturally profound, complex, richly concentrated wine with outstanding aging potential: a deep color and a dense, powerful nose repeated on the palate with creamy, dark chocolate notes and a singular concentration of flavor owed to its very old vines. The Wine Cellar Insider rates it capable of some of the finest wines in the Pomerol appellation, with complexities, opulent personalities and silky textures seldom found in almost any Bordeaux wine, and a sensuous, concentrated profile with beautiful purity of fruit. Top vintages can age and evolve for 40 to 50 years or longer, and the wine needs at least a decade before it truly begins to express its character and complexity; in good vintages it is much better with at least 12 to 15 years of aging, and it reaches peak maturity between 15 and 50 years after the vintage. Young vintages benefit from 2 to 3 hours or more of decanting, while older vintages need very little beyond removing sediment. The Wine Cellar Insider singles out 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 among recent vintages. Serve at 15.5 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit) with veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roasted, braised and grilled dishes, Asian dishes, hearty fish courses such as tuna, mushrooms and pasta.

• Estate tasting description: deep color, dense and powerful nose, creamy dark chocolate notes, concentration owed to old vines; The Wine Cellar Insider adds opulent, silky, sensuous textures and pure fruit
• Top vintages age 40 to 50 years or longer; at least a decade to show its character; at least 12 to 15 years in good vintages, peak maturity 15 to 50 years after the vintage
• Young vintages: decant 2 to 3 hours or more; older vintages need minimal decanting beyond removing sediment
• Recent standout vintages (The Wine Cellar Insider): 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
• Serve at 15.5C (60F); pairs with veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roasted/braised/grilled dishes, Asian dishes, tuna and mushrooms

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://www.moueix.com/en/pomerol/trotanoy, https://www.moueix.com/en/pomerol/esperance-de-trotanoy, https://www.moueix.com/en, https://www.moueix.com/en/company/history. Secondary sources: thewinedoctor.com (Château Trotanoy profile and tasting notes), thewinecellarinsider.com (Complete Guide to Chateau Trotanoy), janeanson.com / Inside Bordeaux (Jean-Claude Berrouet profile), advinetures.ca (Chateau Trotanoy profile), greatbordeauxwines.com (Trotanoy profile). Last verified 2026-10-12. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs; see conflicts.json for the vineyard size/composition and historic-ranking discrepancies resolved in this rebuild.