CHÂTEAU TROTTEVIEILLE

There is an unfortunate green streak running through this wine from the shy nose to the grainy tannins on the finish. Slightly unripe and slightly too sour, it is hard to shake these flavours and so this wine is, unfortunately, out of balance. Rating: 15+? Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Jun 2021)

The 2020 Trotte Vieille is laced with inky, jammy dark fruit, licorice and bittersweet chocolate. This heady, potent Saint-Émilion is not exactly subtle, but it does offer tons of intensity in an opulent, heady style. The only thing missing is a bit of midpalate pliancy and overall persistence. Drinking range: 2030 - 2050 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jun 2021)

The 2020 TrotteVieille is quite broody and backward on the nose at first, demanding 15–20 minutes to open. It then reveals blackberry, sea spray/marine scents and hints of crushed chalk and pencil box. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a firm structure, indicating that this is a Saint-Émilion that should be cellared for several years. There is a lovely touch of white pepper and allspice toward the finish. I suspect this is a TrotteVieille that will reward the patient. Drinking range: 2028 - 2055 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)

The 2020 Château Trotte Vieille is an exotic, incredibly perfumed Saint-Emilion that comes from a cooler terroir on the upper plateau. Vivid purple-hued, with a crazy nose of blue fruits, violets, flowers, and graphite, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pretty, focused texture, ample tannins, and a great finish. I love its elegance and purity on the palate, and it’s a beautiful wine in the making. Rating: 92-94 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2021)

Excellent grip and tension through the palate, a well-judged and well-balanced Trottevieille, doing exactly as well as expected in a vintage that favours clay and limestone soils that keep freshness and focus. Elegant and sleek, plenty of tight blackberry fruit and a mouthwatering finish. Expands through the mid palate and then closes in on the finish, a confident wine where you feel the terroir is pulling the strings not the winemaker. Tasted twice, loved both times. Drinking range: 2028 - 2044 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)

Fantastic texture and structure to this wine with firm, silky tannins that go on and on. Love the crushed blackberries, blueberries and salt. Floral and mineral character, too. Full and tight with great length. Chewy at the very end, indicating real structure. All about structure and length. 50% cabernet sauvignon, 49% merlot, and 1% cabernet sauvignon. Rating: 98-99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2021)

50% Cabernet Franc, 49% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark purple. On the nose there is no hint of such high alcohol. Very supple texture and a lot of flattering fruit that pretty much distracts from the medium charge of tannin. Much less obvious tannin than most of its peers. A certain appetising savour and energy. 15% Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 16.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)