Château TrotteVieille Saint-Emilion 2025 - 1er Grand Cru Classé B (Primeurs)

Bettane & Desseauve

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 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, 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 it is dedicated to enhancing the second wine, La Vieille Dame de Trotte Vieille.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Extremely refined tannins that fade on the palate, with enticing aromas of black fruit and a citrus finish. This wine is characterized by its elegance and structure. 51% Cabernet Franc, 46% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

With an intense purple color, the 2025 Château Trottevieille is composed of 51% Cabernet Franc, 46% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, all aged in new oak barrels. It offers a truly brilliant nose of blackcurrant, graphite, wood smoke, and crushed stone. On the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated, with beautiful depth on the mid-palate, ripe and polished tannins, impeccable overall balance, and a superb finish.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The depth of the bouquet can be summed up by the way it gradually unfolds, revealing its complexity as the minutes pass. Notes of rose petals and violets highlight its freshness, while the chalky character reveals the terroir; then, notes of ripe black berries and a hint of roasted notes reflect the sunny nature of the vintage. Ultimately, it is harmony that shines through! The creamy character of the attack gives way to a linear wine carried by powerful tannins. These do not reveal themselves all at once. They gain power as they make their way across the palate, taking care to create a connection with the invigorating and energizing aspect of the acidity. Harmony certainly takes center stage, but it must share the spotlight with power, then the acidic structure and the freshness that comes with it… So, in truth, everyone takes center stage! This is all the more delightful because the freshness does not allow itself to be intimidated. It takes its place serenely within this powerful framework to offer a welcome balance in a prominent and vigorous context. It must be admitted that it has compelling arguments: luminosity, a wealth of nuances, and an exceptional olfactory diversity. A lively, mouth-watering, vibrant, and persistent wine. Yet another great success from Trotte-Vieille. It is engaging, exhilarating, driven by freshness and vigor, with subtlety as its driving force. 2030–2065

Tastingbook - Markus Del Monego

About the wine:

Deep purple in color with violet highlights and a black core. An elegant nose with expressive aromas of fruit, blackberries, and mulberries, along with delicate floral notes, subtle oak, light toasted notes, and soft spices in the background. On the palate, the wine is well-structured with firm yet ripe tannins, lovely acidity, very elegant and expressive fruit, as well as subtle toasted notes and sweet spices in the background. Very juicy character with a compelling finish.