Trottevieille 2022

The 2022 Trotte Vieille takes time to cohere on the nose, with scents of red fruit, black olive, violet and liquorice, though it meliorates in the glass and finds more and more refinement. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine tannins, spicy and peppery, well integrated oak and a concentrated finish that will require time. I believe this will come good in the end and represents one of the finest wines from this underestimated estate in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

The 2022 Trotte Vieille is composed of 50% CS, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc - less Cabernet Franc this year because the Cabernet Sauvignon was so good. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with evocative notes of redcurrant jelly, warm cassis, baked plums, and candied violets, giving way to suggestions of licorice, tar, and black truffles. The full-bodied palate explodes with vibrant, expressive black berry and earthy flavors, framed by beautifully ripe, plush tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and fragrant. This is stunning.

Even with its location on the heart of the Asteries limestone plateau the colour is insanely dark, a clear imprint of the vintage. This is the second vintage in Trottevielle's new cellars, and it's totally gorgeous, rich and creamy in its delivery of blackberry and blueberry fruits, feels complete, compelx and balanced, with the chocolate and damson core given lift and finesse by a salted cracker and saffran finish. 100% new oak, beautiful wine from the team here, owned by Philippe Casteja.

The 2022 Trotte Vieille, the second vintage made in the new cellar, offers a wonderfully delineated bouquet of mineral-infused black fruit, touches of blood orange and a liberal sprinkling of white pepper. The medium-bodied palate features crisp, taut tannins and plenty of blueberry-laced black fruit, leading to a vibrant, peppery finish that lingers long in the mouth. This wine is within a hair's width of the Right Bank "big boys," but it probably represents the best value of them all. 2032 - 2060

The 2022 Trotte Vieille represents the first year when all the Cabernet Sauvignon entered the Grand Vin (5%). Picked from 2 to 27 September, it is aged entirely in new oak. It has an intense bouquet that is well-defined albeit coated with the oak at the moment - this will be subsumed with time. There is an underlying orange pith/tangerine element lending nuance. The palate is very harmonious on the entry with pliant tannins. Very precise, silky smooth in texture thanks to the use of their new cuveries equipped with smaller vats. The acidity is nicely judged, opulent yet controlled with a touch of white pepper right on the finish. Very stylish. 2032-2060

The most structured and impressive Trottevieille I have ever tasted. It is full-bodied yet compacted with a fine velvet texture. Intense finish with super tension and focus. Could move up a notch.