Chateau Trotte Vieille 2016
Personalized Advice
100% Secure Payment
Guaranteed provenance
The aromatic expression and precision of a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru wine
The estate
The origin of the name "Trottevieille" dates back several hundred years. Legend has it that there was once a stagecoach stop near the château. As soon as a team stopped, an elderly lady trotted down to get the news, hence the name “Trotte Vieille” (meaning “the Trot of the Elderly”). This Premier Grand Cru Classe of Saint-Émilion, Château Trotte Vieille, is home to a small parcel of vines rescued from the terrible damage caused by phylloxera during the second half of the 19th century.
The vineyard
Château Trotte Vieille 2016 is a Saint-Emilion wine that stems from a 10-hectare vineyard. The vines are around 50 years old and are planted on reddish soil upon a limestone subsoil.
The vintage
The 2016 vintage was marked by rather complex climatic conditions. The winter was mild and rainy. It was followed by a cold and equally wet spring. However, the flowering went perfectly well thanks to an episode of pleasant weather. The summer that followed was very hot and dry, causing severe water stress. Fortunately, the vineyard was hit by some long-awaited rainfall on September 13th, which enabled the grapes to complete their ripening process.
Vinification and ageing
Aged in new barrels for an average of 12 to 18 months.
The blend
Cabernet Franc (53%)
Merlot (45%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (2%).
Château Trotte Vieille 2016: Characteristics and tasting tips
The tasting
Nose
The nose blends intense floral aromas with savoury empyreumatic notes.
Palate
On the palate, the tannins are very fine and the acidity is well balanced. The fruity flavours blend extremely well with the oak influence. The 2016 Château Trottevieille is deep and precise until the finish.
The 2016 Trottevieille is a blend of 45% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 53% Cabernet Franc picked on 6 October for the Merlot and 18 October for the Cabernets, one of the latest in recent years. The yield was 37 hectoliters per hectare, and it is matured entirely in new oak. The bouquet is quite intense, although personally I would have employed less new oak. However, it does open up nicely in the glass and imparts nuances such as orange blossom and incense aromas with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well judged acidity, and here I feel the oak is simpatico with the fruit. It has a lovely grainy texture, great depth and maintains precision all the way through to the finish. This is a strong follow-up to the 2015 Trottevieille although it will require several years in bottle to subsume the oak.