Château Trotte Vieille 2021

Château Trotte Vieille is one of the oldest estates in Saint-Émilion – with records of the property’s inception as a working winery dating back to 1453.  Though there were some vineyards in the region that dated back to the Roman Era, there are very few reports of working wineries with a history as long-lived as that of Château Trotte Vieille.  The wines from this Saint-Émilion Premiere Grand Cru Classé B are remarkably ageable yet approachable while young.  Critics such as James Suckling consider Château Trotte Vieille one of the more underrated Saint-Émilion First Growth estates – and that might very much be true.  Regardless, with ever increasing scores and recognition, Château Trotte Vieille is surely a must for any savvy wine buyer. 

The story of how the estate derives its name is a colorfully comedic one.  Centuries ago, an old woman – who was quite the gossip – lived on the property.  She knew everything about everyone and was always trotting around town prattling on about the latest scandal.  Perhaps she was lonely living on such a vast estate all by herself – who knows – but either way, whenever a Stagecoach would arrive at the end of the long drive, the Old Woman would trot over to the Coach and share the latest stories on everyone’s business in Saint-Émilion.  Local townspeople would call her, “Old Trot,” or Trotte Vieille and the name stuck.  

Yet despite this charming story, the wines of Château Trotte Vieille are meant to be taken seriously.  Château Trotte Vieille was purchased by Marcel Borie, the head of a negociant called Borie-Manoux in 1949.  Marcel gave the property to his son-in-law, Emille Castéja to manage it, and it has been managed by the Castéjas ever since.  Château Trotte Vieille is currently being run by Phillippe Castéja.  The estate has some impressive terroir of clay mixed with limestone soil, and the vineyard is planted in one single block – something quite unusual in the Right Bank appellation of Saint-Émilion.  The plantings of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon are a bit on the older side – ranging from 50 to 100 years old.  

Perhaps one of the more unique aspects of Château Trotte Vieille are the small amount pre-phylloxera vines that are 150 years of age.  This is quite a rare occurrence, as phylloxera – a parasitic wood louse that preys on wine grapes – nearly devastated the entire production of Bordeaux wine during the late 1800s.  Somehow the vineyards at Château Trotte Vieille were lucky and managed to escape the phylloxera plague.  Interestingly enough, extremely limited quantity of wine is produced from a small selection of pre-phylloxera Cabernet Franc, but it’s only available at the tasting room.

The wine from Château Trotte Vielle is fresh, with a beautiful oceanic mineral quality from the limestone terroir, which is somewhat typical of Saint-Émilion.  The quality continues to improve with each passing vintage and is a worthy purchase for any Right Bank connoisseur. The wines of Château Trotte Vielle do require a bit of bottle ageing during good vintages.  They are fresh, with a beautiful oceanic mineral quality from the limestone terroir, which is somewhat typical of St-Émilion.  The quality of their Grand Vin continues to improve with each passing vintage and is a worthy purchase for any Right Bank connoisseur.

"The 2021 Trotte Vieille is the first vintage vinified in the new facility, using 25 vats for 11.5 hectares that Frederic Castèja told me allowed them more flexibility to pick exactly when they wanted. Matured entirely in new oak plus a couple of amphorae, it has a very detailed bouquet of blackberry, raspberry and a hint of licorice and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, certainly more detailed than previous vintages, and quite saline in the mouth, with a persistent finish. Classic in style, it has the tension to repay long-term cellaring. It may well end up at the top of my banded score." - Neal Martin, Vinous (5/12/2022), Ratings: 92-94

"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, following by a mouthwatering combination of pumice-stone salinity, cassis and blackberry fruits, fennel and white pepper spice. Will take its time, but reward patience. 32hl/h yield, 100% new oak. First year in new winery, with double the number of vats (12 up to 25). Axel Marchal consultant." - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux (5/13/2022), Ratings: 93

"The first vintage made in the estate's new winery, the 2021 Trotte Vieille has turned out beautifully, offering up aromas of sweet berries and cherries mingled with burning embers, rose petals and raw cocoa. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and polished, it's impressively deep and serious. It's a blend of 54% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (4/29/2022), Ratings: 92-94

"I was more than impressed by the 2021 Château Trotte Vieille, a beautiful Cabernet Franc-dominated Saint-Emilion from the upper plateau. Giving up tons of blue fruits as well as exotic flower and tobacco notes, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a balanced, seamless mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and integrated acidity. It has good density and lots of potential. The blend is 54% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. This cuvée had some rusticity in the past, but recent vintages are pure class." - Jeb Dunnuck (6/2/2022) Rating: 92-94

"C’est le premier millésime du nouveau cuvier, avec désormais 25 cuves pour le vignoble de 12 hectares, permettant un gain de précision évident. Les cabernets marquent le profil (54 % de cabernet franc, 1 % de cabernet-sauvignon). Corps tendu, cœur de bouche soyeux et d’un grand raffinement, verticalité finale digne de son grand terroir." - BETTANE & DESSEAUVE (5/24/2022), Ratings: 95-96