Château Trotte Vieille 2021

Open, fruit-driven, herbal, rosehip tea, complex. On the palate, approachable, fine tannins support the delicate fruit, no over-extraction, excellent balance, fresh and elegant, very good length. No comparison with the opulent wines of the past.

Floral and fragrant; rose petals and Turkish delight. Clean and crisp on the palate, it doesn’t carry the same degree of weight and texture as the ’18, ’19 or ’20, but what it may lack in power it makes up for with bright, easy-going fruit. It’s atypical in style like many 2021s, yet smooth, round and gentle. Delicate and great for earlier drinking. I like the purity and the different angle you get—still with spice, florality and dark fruit but with a lighter touch. Juicy, with well-integrated acidity; it feels playful and bright. Fun, and simply delicious. It’s really not trying too hard, and that’s what I love about the 2021s. This wine shows you can adapt winemaking to the vintage, which is so important. If you like 2018 you may not prefer this, but it’s a beautiful glass of wine nonetheless. Lifted, clean, pretty. Great acidity and strawberry juice with a chalky, salty finish.

The 2021 Trotte Vieille, which is still the first vintage vinified in their new facility (see my primeur note for details), has a refined, classic Right Bank bouquet with lifted dark berry fruit, crushed stone and less of the licorice element noted out of barrel, perhaps with more floral scents. The palate is fresh on the entry with sapid red fruit, very pure in style—almost pastille-like. But there's real depth in this Saint-Émilion, and as I remarked before, more detail, particularly on the finish. This is just a really delicious wine, one that notably gains charm in the glass, though I suspect it will benefit from cellar age.

Dark ruby core, purple reflections, subtle ochre tints on the rim. Nuances of red cherries, delicate herbal savouriness with orange zest and tobacco. Concentrated palate with notes of blackberries, finely woven tannins, mineral-salty notes with lemon citrus and bright red fruit on the finish.

This austere vintage suits the style of Trottevieille, but risks being over-strict, and needs time to put flesh on the bones over ageing. Plenty of floral aromatics right off the bat, followed by a mouthwatering combination of pumice-stone salinity, cassis and blackberry fruits, fennel and white pepper spice. It will take its time, but reward patience. 32 hl/ha yield, 100% new oak. First year in the new winery, with double the number of vats (from 12 up to 25). Axel Marchal, consultant.

The bouquet of Trotte Vieille presents itself with convincing serenity, with finesse, without ostentation, yet with precision and persuasion. Very delicate woody nuances carry the whole bouquet and remain true to their supporting role. Notes of violet and peony highlight the presence of Cabernet Franc, while hints of blackcurrant and elderberry complete the aromatic plurality. Salivating, silky and perfectly balanced, the wine shows a surprising accessibility, yet it clearly claims excellent ageing potential thanks to its acidic structure, which becomes a precious ally to the tannins. A masterful wine, all about detail and subtlety.

Quite floral in nature, with nuances of espresso, cherries, 5 spice and tobacco leaves. The palate is soft, silky, and fresh, with layers of elegant, sweet cherries, red plums, and supple black raspberries with nuances of espresso, dark chocolate, and salt that lingers. This is quite successful for the vintage. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. The debut vintage made in the new cellars allows for parcel-by-parcel vinification. Drink from 2025-2055.