Trottevieille 2022

What fantastic aromas of dark fruits. At the same time, there’s a savory character of mushrooms, lead pencil, violets, bark and wet earth that always remains complex and sophisticated. It's medium- to full-bodied with very tight and fine tannins that run the full length of the wine. Wonderful polish and refinement. Classy. A bottle for your cellar. 50% cabernet franc, 45% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon. Best after 2030.

Coming from a terrific terroir on the upper plateau, just east of the village of Saint-Emilion, the 2022 Château Trotte Vieille checks in as 50% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a powerful, concentrated 2022 yet it never puts a foot wrong, offering remarkable purity in its red and black fruits as well as aromatics of scorched earth, baking spices, licorice, and woodsmoke. With medium to full-bodied richness, present yet nicely integrated oak, ripe tannins, and outstanding length, it deserves 5-7 years of bottle age and will drink beautifully over the following two decades. It's another legit, beautiful Saint-Emilion in the vintage. While I wasn't able to taste this during my trip through Bordeaux, I subsequently purchased a bottle locally to review. (Drink between 2030-2047)

Concentrated and expressive aromas - the TrotteVieille signature scents emerge from the glass of tobacco, liquorice, dark chocolate, roses, violets and sweet blackcurrants. Smooth and determined, this pulses with energy and cooling freshness from the start, so juicy on the mid palate, mouthwateringly so but with a soft sweetness that is really pleasant and together with slightly chewy tannins gives a plentiful mouthfeel. Tannins have a salty grip and this ends mineral with a crushed stone salinity. The finish is a touch narrow suggesting this wine has such a long life ahead yet it's one I immediately wanted another glass of and is delicious to drink even now! (Drink between 2030-2050)

The quality of the 2022 Trotte Vieille took me by surprise, but clearly more diligent viticulture, combined with a new winery equipped with fully 26 vats for the estate's 11 hectares of vineyards, is beginning to pay off, as this is the most complete, integrated young wine I have ever tasted at this address. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, rose petals, violets and incense, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with a deep core of vibrant fruit, beautifully refined tannins and a long, saline finish. A blend of fully 50% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot, it derives exclusively from Trotte Vieille's historic clay-limestone walled vineyard.

The 2022 Trotte Vieille takes time to cohere on the nose, with scents of red fruit, black olive, violet and liquorice, though it meliorates in the glass and finds more and more refinement. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine tannins, spicy and peppery, well integrated oak and a concentrated finish that will require time. I believe this will come good in the end and represents one of the finest wines from this underestimated estate in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Trottevieille is very impressive this year. Intense cassis and blueberry fruit waft from the glass together with fine vanilla spice. Polished, vibrant and juicy on the palate, the tannins have an as yet unseen refinement for this property, finely grained, ripe and wonderfully integrated. The cashmere texture allows the pure fruit core to shine, vibrant and intense. There is a strong wood spice note, but it is balanced with the fruit. The finish has a hint of graphite and dried herbs, adding to the complexity and taming the sweetness. A great effort that could make this score look conservative in bottle.

The 2022 Trotte Vieille is composed of 50% CS, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc - less Cabernet Franc this year because the Cabernet Sauvignon was so good. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with evocative notes of redcurrant jelly, warm cassis, baked plums, and candied violets, giving way to suggestions of licorice, tar, and black truffles. The full-bodied palate explodes with vibrant, expressive black berry and earthy flavors, framed by beautifully ripe, plush tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and fragrant. This is stunning.

Even with its location on the heart of the Asteries limestone plateau the colour is insanely dark, a clear imprint of the vintage. This is the second vintage in Trottevielle's new cellars, and it's totally gorgeous, rich and creamy in its delivery of blackberry and blueberry fruits, feels complete, compelx and balanced, with the chocolate and damson core given lift and finesse by a salted cracker and saffran finish. 100% new oak, beautiful wine from the team here, owned by Philippe Casteja.