Château Trotte Vieille is a Premier Grand Cru Classé estate on the limestone plateau and slopes east of Saint-Émilion, with 12 hectares of vines and a remarkable heritage of very old Cabernet Franc vines, some dating from before phylloxera. The estate has been owned by the Castéja family since 1947, with vineyards planted on limestone-rich soils that give the wines freshness, structure and a distinctive mineral character. The 2005 vintage was one of Bordeaux’s outstanding years, producing exceptionally ripe, concentrated fruit while retaining the acidity needed for long ageing. The combination of old Cabernet Franc and Merlot gives Trotte Vieille a distinctive balance of richness, floral character and savoury complexity.
The 2005 is composed of 53% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. At 21 years old, it has developed well beyond its primary fruit, with blackcurrant, blueberry and plum giving way to violet, liquorice, graphite, tobacco, roasted coffee and subtle earthy notes. The palate is concentrated and rounded, but remains fresh, with fine-grained tannins and a long, savoury finish. Wine Advocate and Wine Enthusiast both awarded the wine 93 points, with Wine Advocate noting its attractive minerality and complex finish. This is now a mature Saint-Émilion with the structure softened and secondary character well established, and should drink beautifully from now through the mid-2030s. This particular bottle has been perfectly stored and comes directly from Bordeaux, making it especially well placed to show the wine at this stage of its development.
