Château Trotte Vieille 2025, St Emilion
IN BOND
Delivery 2028
Appellation - Saint-Émilion
The 2025 is 51% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Merlot. Maturation in 100% new oak.
TASTING NOTES
The 2025 Trotte Vieille shows exceptional potential, unfurling in the glass with aromas of ripe blueberries, violets, subtle spices and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, layered and velvety, it's deep, concentrated and refined, with lively acids, lovely purity and a long, penetrating finish. This limestone terroir on Saint-Emilion's plateau is really showing its pedigree, and it has produced one of the highlights of the vintage.
95/97
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2026
The 2025 Trotte Vieille was picked between September 4 and 19 at just over 30 hl/ha and matured entirely in new oak. The 51% Cabernet Franc drives the nose, so it errs more towards black, slightly peppery fruit, with touches of bay leaf and pencil box. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, pleasing edginess, moderate depth, more linear, fresh and sapid in style, with commendable minéralité towards the finish. This is a very well-crafted Saint-Émilion that will only get better with age, as testified by numerous vintages tasted over the years. Drink 2031-2045.
94/96
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2026
Extremely fine tannins that fade into the palate, with seductive dark fruit flavors and a citrus aftertaste. It’s all about elegance and structure in this wine. 51% cabernet franc, 46% merlot and 3% cabernet sauvignon.
97/98
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2025
Inky with violet edging, vibrant and concentrated, iris and wet stones, pumice, chamomile, peony, rose bud, this is an excellent wine that has a serious edge to it, tightly knitted down tannins that are plentiful, waves crushed mint, slow and steady progression through the palate, there are a ton of tannins here and plenty of ageing potential. Pumice stone finish, sucks the juice out before returning it in a gulp. Harvest September 4 to 19. 100% new oak, 27hl/h yields because lots of old vines. The estate will be making 130 bottles as usual of their 100% old vine Cabernet Franc, with the rest of these pre-Phylloxera vines going in here. 2032-2052.
96
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2026
The 2025 Trotte Vieille soars out of the glass. Freshly cut flowers, mocha, dried herbs, menthol and espresso meld into a core of rich, deeply layered dark fruit. Trotte Vieille is a rare Saint-Émilion that features Cabernet Franc. All of that intensely floral/savory character (and the matching structure) is in evidence today. The 2025 builds beautifully in the glass, revealing myriad dimensions of intensity. Blue-toned fruit, gravel, cloves, lavender, licorice and espresso linger. The only question is how long the 2025 is going to need. 2035 - 2065
96/98
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2026
