2016 Château Trotte Vieille - Release 2023

The 2016 Trotte Vieille is blessed with a finely tuned bouquet of brambly red berry fruit, orange pith and light rose petal scents that unfurl with aeration. The medium-bodied palate delivers supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Fresh and pliant, with a gorgeous, silky finish that feels very persistent. This is an utterly charming and noble Saint-Émilion. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

- Neal Martin (01/2020)

From a great terroir on the upper plateau (not far from Troplong Mondot) and very old vines, the 2016 Château Trotte Vieille is a classic Saint-Emilion that has juicy dark fruits, leafy herbs, forest floor, and underbrush aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, pretty, elegant, and finesse-driven, it has fine tannins and a balanced style that’s going to evolve nicely for 15+ years or more. (02/2019)

The 2016 Trottevieille is a blend of 45% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 53% Cabernet Franc picked on 6 October for the Merlot and 18 October for the Cabernets, one of the latest in recent years. The yield was 37 hectoliters per hectare, and it is matured entirely in new oak. The bouquet is quite intense, although personally I would have employed less new oak. However, it does open up nicely in the glass and imparts nuances such as orange blossom and incense aromas with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well judged acidity, and here I feel the oak is simpatico with the fruit. It has a lovely grainy texture, great depth and maintains precision all the way through to the finish. This is a strong follow-up to the 2015 Trottevieille although it will require several years in bottle to subsume the oak.

- Neal Martin (04/2017)