La Dame de Trotte Vieille 2011 – Second Vin

Since the late 1990s, when Philippe Castéja took the helm—supported by the late winemaker Denis Dubourdie—this estate, magnificently situated on the limestone plateau just northeast of the village of Saint-Émilion, has captivated wine lovers with its bold intensity as well as its balance, finesse, and freshness, offering the character of a distinguished Saint-Émilion—long and slender—with all the elegance of great Cabernet Francs from very old vines, which often make up the majority of the blend. A recent vertical tasting demonstrates once again that this wine ranks among the very greatest of the Right Bank.

One of Borie-Manoux’s flagship wines. Legend has it that an elderly lady who once lived on the estate would trot out to catch up on the latest news from the stagecoach passing by. Now managed by Philippe Castéja, this 12-hectare vineyard, located on the eastern slope of the Saint-Émilion plateau, features a unique blend of grape varieties, with equal parts Merlot and Cabernet.

A traditional Premier Cru of Saint-Émilion, Trotte Vieille is situated on a superb hillside slightly set apart from its peers, capable of producing refined, elegant wines with great aging potential. It boasts a rare stock of very old Cabernet Franc vines, from which the château produces a micro-cuvée that is not sold commercially. Philippe Castéja embarked on a clear revitalization effort in the early 2000s, drawing on the expert advice of the late Denis Dubourdieu. The estate produces a classically styled wine that displays a certain austerity when released en primeur, emphasizing not opulence but rather the freshness of the texture and fruit. We awarded it its second star in 2015. Following the 2012 classification, the entire vineyard of Château Bergat (3.5 hectares) is now eligible to be included in Trotte Vieille. For the time being, part of the crop is set aside to enhance the second wine, La Vieille Dame de Trotte Vieille.