Trottevieille 2015

Subtle and complex aromas of dried flowers, berries, blackberries and black olives. Minerals, limestone and rust to boot. Full-bodied, layered and tannic, yet the phenolic structure is all about strength with finesse. It lasts a very long time. The new classic from here... 1961 all over? Try in 2024 and behold.

The 2015 Trotte Vieille has an attractive bouquet with cedar and tobacco-tinged red fruit, well defined and poised with more terroir expression that many of its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, licorice-tinged red fruit with fine delineation toward the poised finish. This is an excellent Trotte Vieille that probably will deserve a higher score with bottle age. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Tasted blind. Some evolution at the rim. Sweet and fresh on the nose but not very concentrated, and with a note of oak still there. Drying tannins on the end. Good stuff. 14.5%
Drink 2023-2030

Deepish crimson. Lifted dark-red fruit, the Cabernet Franc adding its lovely scent, then more austere on the palate than I expected, though only relative to the vintage. Chocolatey tannins in both flavour and texture. (JH) 14.5%
Drink 2024-2036

This Saint Emilion property is owned by the Casteja family of Chateau Batailley. Quality has been impressive here in recent vintages and the 2015 is particularly successful. Made from a low yield of 34 hl/ha. The blend is 49% Cabernet Franc , 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Merlot. 3500 cases will be produced. Deep ruby colour with blue and black fruits on the nose. The palate is rich in vanilla from oak which supplies most of the tannin as the fruit is ripe and silky with blueberry and blackberry lifted by a touch of violet. The finish is long and spicy with a real note of coffee.

Notes of black raspberries, framboise, vanilla and lots of toasty oak emerge from the 2015 Château TrotteVieille, and it stays fresh and lively on the palate, with charming, sweet fruit, light tannin, and a good finish. Give it a few years to integrate its oak and enjoy over the following decade or more. 2018 - 2018

Rich ripe fruit the nose has depth of flavour the palate black fruit richness. Sweet quite supple in the middle layers of flavour giving complexity and although there is freshness at the back the finish is rich and sweet. 2022-35

At the riper end of the spectrum, it must be said (the Merlots came in at 15%, apparently)
but the high percentage of Cabernet Franc gives the wine balanced, freshness and zip. Leafy,
complex and built to last, this is a very impressive Trottevielle. Drink: 2022-35