TN: 1982 Trotanoy

[Baby Chickpea]

<b>1982 Chateau Trotanoy</b>
Light red with some brown edges. Hard to tell at a dimly lit restaurant. Nose is meaty, fleshy, sensual, perfumed with blackcurrant sweetness and some aged cigar-box and cedar. Palate is elegant but concentrated. Long and harmonious. Beautiful structure and breed (dare I use that word). A class wine in every respect – hard to believe a wine can get any better or more balanced. Everything is near perfect and it is at its peak. One of the finest wines I have ever tasted (I’ve had many of these recently!). So much suppleness and silky lush fruit, so much to offer and it delivers on every level. You drink this wine and it is one holistic, seamless entity – hard to believe the elements are oak, tannin, acid, alcohol and fruit such is its brilliance. I reckon in a horizontal of other 82 Bordeaux’s and certainly in an Aussie turbo charged merlot line-up it would appear “lost” or underwhelming but this is a clear case of bigger isn’t necessarily better. And a salutary lesson for all Aussie winemakers for textbook merlot. Truly glorious stuff. My girlfriend exclaimed “It’s even better than the ‘70 Latour we had last year” (her previous best wine she’s ever had). No doubt it will plateau for several years but who can resist such sensual charm?
<b>Grand Vin! 19.5 / 20<b>