Trottevieille - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018

Wine Advocate

91

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/31/2021

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Trotte Vieille opens with alluring scents of kirsch, baked plums and wild blueberries, plus hints of red roses, dark chocolate, tapenade and fertile loam. The medium to full-bodied palate has ripe, rounded tannins and lovely freshness supporting the juicy red and black fruits, finishing long with great purity. 91+

Jeb DUNNUCK

93

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/16/2021

Coming from the upper plateau and always including lots of Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château Trotte Vieille reveals a healthy ruby/purple color as well as elegant, complex notes of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, cedarwood, and violets. Beautifully balanced on the palate, it needs lots of air to show at its best, but it's medium to full-bodied and has a focused, firm texture, ripe tannins, and a beautiful finish. As always, this has an incredible floral character, and the purity of fruit is terrific. It needs 4-6 years in the cellar, but I suspect it will keep for 20 years or more. It's one of the finest wines I've tasted from this estate.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97

byJeff Levethe3/16/2021

2018 marks the year Trottte Vieille really upped their game. From the initial floral centric notes on the nose, you move to the palate with its velvety textured, multiple layers of sweet, lush, pure, silky red fruits, touch of oak, herbs and licorice and a sensuous finish. This is just great in every way. Much better in bottle than in barrel, this is going to offer fabulous drinking for 2-3 decades with ease. I am certain this is the finest wine ever produced from Chateau Trotte Vieille. The wine was made from blending 54% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% ABV.

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe3/12/2021

The 2018 TrotteVieille appears to have calmed down since I tasted it from barrel. High-toned black cherry and cassis fruit are still to the fore, though again, I would prefer to see more delineation. The palate is ripe on the entry with a sweet core of cassis and boysenberry, light veins of graphite and an opulent but controlled finish. As I commented from barrel, it needs a little more charm and personality, although it is very harmonious and quite precise.

Wine Spectator

92

byJames Molesworththe2/1/2021

Tilts to old school in style, with a mix of savory, warm raspberry coulis, sandalwood, red tea and bitter cherry paste notes mixed together. Finish has good cut and persistence, with a fine-grained cedar note framing it all. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2034. 3,000 cases made. –JM

Yvesbeck.wine

95

byYves Beckthe1/26/2021

Ce vin se révèle tout en finesse. Il a de la fraîcheur, du fruit et la pertinence qu'il affiche et met en valeur avec précision. En bouche le vin est compact, friand et doté de tannins porteurs. Ces derniers sont serrés compacts et en phase avec l'acidité. Ici il y a de la race, du jus et du tempérament. Finale fruitée. Belle réussite.

Jamessuckling.com

98

byJames Sucklingthe1/19/2021

Wild berries, cassis, violets, dark chocolate, praline and bark. It’s full-bodied with firm, seamlessly integrated tannins. Wonderfully flavorful with lingering chocolate notes on a long finish. Keeps going. Try from 2025.

Jamessuckling.com

98

byJames Sucklingthe1/12/2021

Aromas of ripe berry, mushroom, ash and smoke follow through to a full body with a ripe, juicy center palate and lots of creamy tannins that are balanced and refined. Generous and very intense. Tight palate now. Give it time. Try after 2025.

Decanter.com

96

byJane Ansonthe1/12/2021

Wine Enthusiast

96

byRoger Vossthe1/5/2021

A decade ago, this estate was in a fallow period, but its wines live up to their terroir. Solid tannins give it dryness and hint at the classic black-currant fruits to come. At the moment, the wine is just starting out, but its elements promise good aging. Drink from 2027. 

Vinous

91-93

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 TrotteVieille comes across just a tad overripe on the nose with high-toned blueberry and cassis fruit that needs to develop more delineation. The palate is powerful and very ripe, certainly opulent for TrotteVieille with a lacquer of quality new oak on the finish. This is a bold and very dense Saint-Émilion that needs to manifest a little more charm and personality once in bottle.

WeinWisser

18

byTjark Witzgallthe5/7/2019

Bettane & Desseauve

96-97

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2019

Nez de caramel au lait et de cerise noire très caractéristique du cru, avec une pointe poivrée très salivante. La bouche marquée par ses 54% de cabernet franc et 2% de cabernet-sauvignon est l’une des plus stylées de Saint-Emilion, par son élégance et sa très grande fraîcheur. Après la mise en bouteille, il pourrait bien intégrer le top cinq de Saint-Emilion.

Vinous

93-96

byAntonio Gallonithe4/30/2019

The 2018 TrotteVieille is a super-intriguing wine. Aromatically deep and layered, the 2018 offers tremendous depth and textural finesse. Mocha, grilled herbs, black cherry, new leather and spice all wrap around the palate in a dense, racy Saint-Émilion. The blend is 54% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

Trottte Vieille has really upped their game this year. The wine is more distinctive with better concentration and focus. The ripe, lush plums, minerality, underbrush, spice, licorice and smoke show the aromatic complexity. On the palate the wine is elegant, rich and sensuous. I am certain this is the finest wine ever produced from Chateau Trotte Vieille. The wine was made from blending 54% Cabernet Franc, 44% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, reaching 14% alcohol. The harvest took place September 20 - October 5.

Wine Advocate

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Trotte Vieille leaps from the glass with vivacious scents of baked red plums, black raspberries and prunes with underlying scents of dried herbs, fallen leaves, dusty soil and tobacco. Full-bodied with a firm line of chewy tannins, it delivers a lot of stewed fruits on the mid-palate with a slightly warm finish.

Wine Enthusiast

95-97

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2019

A light touch has come into this typically serious wine. The bright acidity and forward black currant fruits lift the tannins and spice. It has delicious freshness and concentration that will allow the wine to develop well.

Jamessuckling.com

98-99

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

Wow. This really sends a tingle down my spine. Love the energy and length to this. Very distinguished. Full-bodied yet tight, polished and compressed. It has a great finish. Exciting. Really.

Wine Spectator

91-94

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

The dark plum and red currant fruit is liberally laced with tobacco and sage notes, ending with a slightly austere edge. Solid but a bit unyielding.

Decanter.com

95

byJane Ansonthe4/1/2019

There's a floral edge to the nose here that is clear from the start - the old Cabernet Franc vines and the limestone have served Trotte Vieille well in 2018. It has good juiciness, full of such beautiful signatures of the property, from its mineral, slatey character that scales the walls, to its creamy texture and brambly and raspberry jelly fruit, all finished off with a saline kick on the finish. Great stuff. 38hl/ha yield. 100% new oak.