2009 Trottevieille
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Delicious, juicy, restrained, this has layers of suspended fruit over fresh acidity that was rare to find in St Emilion in these years. One of the wines of the tasting, finely boned but still muscular tannins, cold ash, dark berry fruits, bitter almond, chocolate block, violets and peony floral character, a ton of crayon and saline kick. So much to enjoy here - and a real testament to how well the old vine Cabernet Franc on this site can develop over time. 100% new oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2009 Trotte Vieille has a very fine bouquet with a mixture of red and black fruit, chestnut and truffle developing in the glass and then hints of morels. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a sharp opening, spicy and vibrant with impressive attack before settling down towards a refined and quite persistent, hoisin-tinged finish. A fine, expressive Cabernet Franc here. Excellent. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' annual Ten Year On tasting.
Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Trotte Vieille gives up notions of spice cake, potpourri and dusty soil with a core of prunes, chocolate-covered cherries and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has quite a chewy texture with a refreshing line cutting through the evolved, savory layers, finishing a little firm.
About the producer
Owned by the Castéja family (of Ch. Batailley), this estate is home to some of the region’s oldest Cabernet Franc vines – with some pre-phylloxera plantings that are over 150 years old.