Château Trotte Vieille Saint-Emilion 2018 - 1er Grand Cru Classé B

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

The nose offers notes of milk caramel and black cherry—very characteristic of this vintage—with a mouth-watering hint of pepper. On the palate, it stands out for its elegance and exceptional freshness. Once bottled, it could well rank among the top five wines of Saint-Émilion.

About the estate:

Since the late 1990s, when Philippe Castéja took the helm—supported by the late oenologist Denis Dubourdie—this estate, beautifully 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 racy, long, and slender Saint-Émilion, 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.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

One of the crown jewels of the Borie-Manoux estate. Legend has it that an elderly lady who once lived on the estate would trot out to catch up on the 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.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

True to its classic character, this wine is certainly full-bodied, especially in this vintage, where it has retained its freshness to build upon the finesse of fruit softened by oak, harmonizing the ripe, smooth profile with elegantly refined tannins. The plateau’s limestone soils have once again made their mark in the vintage’s rich, well-balanced texture.

About the estate:

A traditional Premier Cru of Saint-Émilion, Trotte Vieille occupies 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 non-commercial micro-cuvée. 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, expressing itself with a certain austerity as a primeur, which does not emphasize 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 for inclusion in Trotte Vieille. For the time being, part of it is dedicated to enhancing the second wine, La Vieille Dame de Trotte Vieille.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A beautiful bouquet of delicate flowers, somewhere between blackcurrant blossoms and wallflowers, which unfolds into a captivating palate—extremely rich, sumptuous, and enveloping like a cozy cocoon—with a dense, lingering finish of mocha.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

This wine is a model of finesse. It offers freshness, fruit, and a precision that highlights its character. On the palate, the wine is dense, delicious, and features firm tannins. These tannins are tight and well-integrated, in perfect harmony with the acidity. It displays class, vibrancy, and character. The finish is fruity. A fine achievement.

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

Deep, intense, beautiful, uniform, and youthful red color. Intense, delicate, fruity, pure, and subtle on the nose. Creamy and slightly smoky notes. Meticulously crafted on the palate, particularly aromatic in the mid-palate, with a velvety body, smoothness, and elegance in the texture; the wine finishes long, slightly understated yet very distinguished, with refined tannins. A superb wine that is not overwhelmed by the year’s high alcohol content.

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

About the wine:

The nose offers notes of iris, blackcurrant buds, and "al dente" black fruits, revealing great delicacy and a refined, subtle bouquet. On the palate, it is juicy, with velvety, perfectly savory tannins, beautiful aromas of fresh fruit, and a most refined mineral quality. A magnificent wine that will age beautifully and retain its delicacy. Bravo!