2018 Chateau Trotte Vieille - St. Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 96 pts – JA: *Extremely concentrated cassis and bilberry fruits, almost Left Bank on the approach (there is a majority of Cabernet in the blend), until the juice and slate from the limestone comes pouring in through the mid palate. I love this, absolutely delivered on its en primeur promise. A yield of 38hl/ha. 100% new oak.* - 11/2020

Falstaff Magazin Juni 2019 – 93 pts - PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Feinwürzig unterlegte schwarze Beerenfrucht, Nuancen von reifen Pflaumen, etwas Nougat, ein Hauch von Edelholz, zart nach Vanille. Komplex, extraktsüße Textur, etwas Schokolade, gute Frische, runde Tannine, bleibt haften, mineralischer Nachhall, ein vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter.* - 05/2019

*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.* (91-93/100)

Vinum Magazin – 18/20pts: *Sehr verschlossene Aromatik des Weines, der lange reifen muss; wuchtiger Ansatz, grosse Tiefe, exquisite Rasse und besondere Mineralität trotz der Fülle, langer, saftiger Ausklang auf Noten von Kräutern und Heidelbeeren; im Stil des Jahres, sicher, doch mit bei den Besten!* - 09/2021

WeinWisser – 18/20pts - WL: *Sattes Granatrubin mit aufhellendem Rand. Feingliedriges Bouquet mit frischem Schattenmorellensaft, Heidekraut, hellem Edelholz und parfümiertem Pfeifentabak. Am druckvollen Gaumen mit weicher Textur, fein sandiges Extrakt und mittlerer engmaschiger Körper, zarte kernige Noten im Untergrund. Im gebündelten Finale schwarze Beeren, Baumnuss und Koriander. Hier heisst es, Geduld zu bewahren!* – 04/2021

*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.—J.M.* (91-94/100)

JancisRobinson.com – 16/20pts – JR: *Tasted blind. Meaty nose and then quite soft fruit. Not that concentrated. Pleasant rather than dramatic. Harmonious. Cool. Just slightly inky in texture – but long.* - 01/2022

JamesSuckling.com – 98-99pts - JS: *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.*

Vinous.com – (93-96) pts – AG: *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.* - 04/2019

*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.* (95-97/100)