Chateau Trotte Vieille 2012

WEINWISSER: "49 % Merlot, 48 % Cabernet Franc, 3 % Cabernet Sauvignon. 24 hl/ha. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Dicht, komplex, Brombeeren und getrocknete Heidelbeeren, Holundersaft, schöne Würze mit schwarzem Pfeffer und getrockneten Périgord-Trüffeln im Hintergrund. Im Gaumen ein massives Tanninpaket, strenge, fordernde Muskeln in der Adstringenz, diese dominieren das fleischige Extrakt. Gibt sich als der vielleicht lagerfähigste Saint Emilion. Zu Lasten des Frühgenusses, versteht sich. Irgendwie erinnert er mich – von den Anlagen her – an den legendären 1950er Trottevieille, den ich vor rund zehn Jahren auf dem Weingut mit Philippe Castéja trinken durfte. Wächst hier eine Legende heran?"

JAMES SUCKLING: "Such purity of fruit to this wine with plum, currant and berry character. Solid core of fruit and fine tannins. Full and balanced. Very successful for the vintage."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2012 Trotte Vieille is medium to deep garnet colored. Notes of dried roses, kirsch, and blackberry preserves leap from the glass followed by hints of smoked meats and licorice. The medium-bodied palate delivers ripe, rounded tannins, with a lively backbone to lift the perfumed fruit to a long finish."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A strong effort from proprietor Philippe Castéja, the 2012 Trottevieille has an inky, opaque purple color with plenty of blueberry and blackcurrant fruit, licorice, earth and subtle background oak. It is medium to full-bodied, with excellent texture, long persistence on the palate and impressive purity. All are impressive and evidence of a very top effort from this property that always seems to be capable of producing even greater wine than it actually does. No one is going to be disappointed in the 2012."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles, dichtes Rubingranat. Komplexe Fruchtkonzentration in der Nase. Am Gaumen opulent, saftig. Schöne Extraktsüße, gute Tanninstruktur."

DECANTER: "Fragrant Cabernet nose and palate. Fresh and long. Tannins fine. Perhaps misses a little mid-palate weight."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Medium bodied, with a combination of leafy forest scents, flowers and plums, with a hint of tobacco and earth, the wine is on the elegant, refined, classic side, finishing with bright, red, earthy fruits."

WINE SPECTATOR: "A touch old-school in feel, with light licorice root and mesquite notes framing the core, this is supple and refined, showing alluring plum, anise and black cherry accents. Light tobacco hints appear in the background, balanced by fine-grained tannins."