Chateau Trotte Vieille 2016

JAMES SUCKLING: "Complex aromas of blackberries, dried flowers and other dark fruit. Shows hints of cedar and blackberries. Full-bodied, dense and wonderfully integrated with rich tannins that just melt into the wine. Extremely fine and focused finish. Shows harmony and balance. Better after 2024."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Smoky, woody aromas still show in this young wine. It has plenty of elegance as well, showing its pedigree with restrained fruitiness that will develop slowly. This balanced wine will be ready to drink from 2025."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "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."

WEINWISSER: "53 % Cabernet Franc, 45 % Merlot, 2 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 37 hl/ ha. Granat mit rubinroten Reflexen. Verführerisches Parfüm mit Himbeeren und viel Veilchen, dahinter Rosenholz und rote Johannisbeere. Am dichten Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, kräftigem Tanningerüst und reifem Extrakt, im Rückaroma mit viel Kirschsaft und roten Johannisbeeren. Der Wein wird immer länger und endet in einem hocharomatischen Finale – mit Potenzial."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Elegant, fresh, lively, medium/full bodied and loaded with ripe, sweet, juicy, red and black fruits with staying power, this is one of the best vintages of Trotte Vieille ever produced. The wine is made from blending 53% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon."

DECANTER: "Full of expression; red plum and currant fruit, fine tannins, and a note of freshness. Shows classy oak use, a very well-made wine. Drinking Window 2020 - 2030"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, zart kräuterwürzig unterlegte reife Pflaumenfrucht, ein Hauch von Dörrobst, schokoladiger Anklang. Würzig, reife Kirschen, integrierte Tannine, gute Frische, elegant und anhaftend, Nougat im Rückgeschmack."

JEB DUNNUCK: "From a great terroir on the upper plateau (not far from Troplong Mondot) and very old vines, the 2016 Château Trotte Vieille is a classic Saint-Emilion that has juicy dark fruits, leafy herbs, forest floor, and underbrush aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, pretty, elegant, and finesse-driven, it has fine tannins and a balanced style that’s going to evolve nicely for 15+ years or more."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This has a well-built core of loganberry, plum and black cherry preserve flavors infused with savory and tobacco nuances. The finish is lightly dusty but refined, with a subtle iron twinge filtering in. Not quite as much range or drive as the top examples, but pretty. Best from 2022 through 2037. 2,000 cases made."