Chateau Trotanoy

Chateau Trotanoy occupies 7.20 hectares (17.8 acres) on the Pomerol plateau, planted entirely to Merlot, on soils described by Moueix as gravel on clay and black clay on iron pan. The vineyard slopes gently to the west; the soil at the highest point of exposure carries a good proportion of gravel, becoming progressively more dominated by clay as the elevation declines. Under this clay lies a subsoil of red gravel and an impermeable layer of hard, iron-rich soil known as crasse de fer. This soil diversity is credited with bringing power, depth and complexity to the wine. The Wine Cellar Insider describes the vineyard as divided into two parts, more gravel on one side and more clay on the other, with an elevated peak close to 40 meters on the plateau; the estate's micro-climate runs a bit warmer than its neighbors' because of the elevated gravel slopes, so Trotanoy is often picked slightly before neighboring estates, with the gravel soils picked first and the clay soils after. The vineyard is located 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)
• Vineyard slopes gently west; upper elevations carry more gravel, lower elevations more clay, over a red-gravel and crasse-de-fer subsoil
• Elevated peak close to 40 meters on the Pomerol plateau; warmer micro-climate than neighboring estates, so Trotanoy is often picked slightly earlier, gravel soils first
• Located near Petrus and Chateau Lafleur, with three other Moueix-owned Pomerol chateaux (Latour a Pomerol, Hosanna, La Fleur-Petrus) nearby; vineyard was spared, in part, by the 1956 frost

The Trotanoy vineyard's history dates to the 1760s, when it was owned by the Giraud family, successful landowners on the Right Bank who built the chateau that remains on the property today; at the start of the 19th century, the wine was sold under the name Pomerol Giraud Cru de Trotanoy, and it was considered one of the top wines of the appellation in that era (The Wine Cellar Insider states only Vieux Chateau Certan was held in higher regard, while Winedoctor, summarizing the early editors of Cocks et Feret, places Trotanoy just behind Petrus among the appellation's top estates). Just before the start of the 20th century the estate was much larger than it is today, approximately 25 hectares, divided into multiple plots; further parcels were sold off in the early 20th century, reducing it to its present size. In the mid-1940s, following World War II, the Giraud family sold Chateau Trotanoy to the Pecresse family, who held it only briefly before Jean-Pierre Moueix acquired the property in 1953. Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix has been family run since 1937; Jean-Pierre Moueix, born in Correze in 1913, moved to Saint-Emilion with his parents following the Great Depression of 1929. In 1950 he began augmenting his merchant business with vineyard acquisitions, starting with Chateau La Fleur-Petrus, then Chateau Magdelaine in 1952, then Chateau Trotanoy in 1953. He died in 2003. Christian Moueix (b. 1946) joined the family business in 1970, directed its viticultural activities, later took on commercial responsibilities, and became President in 1991. Edouard Moueix (b. 1977) joined the company in 2003, the third generation of the family involved in the business.

• Vineyard 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
• Estate was 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, obtained his oenology diploma in Bordeaux in 1962. He was hired by Jean-Pierre Moueix and directed winemaking for Petrus and other top Pomerols, Trotanoy among them, from 1964 to 2008; a 1972 Chateau Trotanoy that Berrouet crafted was still being tasted and discussed decades later at a dinner in Montagne-Saint-Emilion. Berrouet also began working with Christian Moueix at Dominus in Napa Valley in 1983. His son Olivier took over the winemaking at Petrus after 2008, and although officially in retirement, Jean-Claude Berrouet has continued to consult for properties in and out of Bordeaux. On the current Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix management team, Eric Murisasco serves 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 began working with Christian Moueix at Dominus in Napa Valley in 1983
• Berrouet's son Olivier took over at Petrus after 2008; Jean-Claude Berrouet still 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 were not heavily damaged by the 1956 frost, and the vineyard is planted at a density of 6,200 vines per hectare. Trotanoy is one of the last top estates in Pomerol to practice deep plowing, intended to help 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 ranging from 15 to 146 hectoliters. The wine is aged 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 character. In vintages prior to the mid-1980s, a portion of the stems was often included in 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 L'Esperance de Trotanoy, the second wine, which is fruit-forward and approachable after just a few years of cellaring while maintaining the depth, complexity and concentration characteristic of Trotanoy's terroir. L'Esperance de Trotanoy comes from that dedicated parcel plus declassified lots not used in the grand vin, and is produced 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; vine age averages 35 years, some parcels over 60 years old; density 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 were included prior to 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

Moueix describes Trotanoy as a naturally profound, complex, richly concentrated wine with outstanding aging potential: a deep color and 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 likewise describes Trotanoy as capable of producing some of the finest wines in the Pomerol appellation, aging well and displaying complexities, opulent personalities and silky textures seldom found in almost any Bordeaux wine, with a unique, sensuous, concentrated profile and 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; the recommendation is at least 12 to 15 years of aging in good vintages, with peak maturity generally reached 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. Recent vintages singled out for quality include 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019; recommended serving temperature is 15.5 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), with classic pairings of veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roasted, braised and grilled dishes, as well as Asian dishes, hearty fish courses such as tuna, mushrooms and pasta.

• Deep color, dense and powerful nose, creamy dark chocolate notes, concentration owed to old vines (Moueix); opulent, silky, sensuous profile with pure fruit (The Wine Cellar Insider)
• Top vintages age 40 to 50 years or longer; needs at least a decade to show its character; recommended aging at least 12 to 15 years, peak maturity 15 to 50 years post-vintage
• Young vintages: decant 2 to 3 hours or more; older vintages need minimal decanting beyond removing sediment
• Recent standout vintages: 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 2026-09-14. 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.