2021 Chateau Trotte Vieille - St. Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 94 pts – GH: *Floral and fragrant; rose petals and Turkish delight. Clean and crisp on the palate, doesn't hold the same degree of weight and texture as the 18,19 or 20 but what it may lack in power it makes up in bright easy-going fruit. It's a-typical in style like many 2021s, but it's smooth, round and gentle. Delicate and great for sooner drinking. I like the purity and the different side you get - still with the spice, florality and dark fruit but a lighter touch. Juicy but the acidity is well integrated, feels playful and bright. Fun, and just delicious. It's really not trying too hard and that's what I love about the 2021s. This wine shows you can adapt the winemaking to the vintage which is so important. If you like 2018 you may not prefer this but it's a beautiful glass of wine nonetheless. Lifted, clean, pretty. great acidity and strawberry juice with a chalky, salty finish.* - 09/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 92 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Ockerrandaufhellung. Nuancen von roten Herzkirschen, zarte Kräuterwürze, Orangenzesten, tabakige Nuancen, mit einem Ribiseltouch unterlegt. Stoffig, Noten von Brombeeren, feine Tannine, mineralisch-salzig, zitronig, rote Frucht im Nachhall.* - 05/2022

The Wine Advocate – (92-94) pts – WK: *The first vintage made in the estate's new winery, the 2021 Trotte Vieille has turned out beautifully, offering up aromas of sweet berries and cherries mingled with burning embers, rose petals and raw cocoa. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and polished, it's impressively deep and serious. It's a blend of 54% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon.*

Vinum Magazin – 18/20 pts: *Zurückhaltende Ausbauwürze; saftig schon im Auftakt, grosse Rasse und Frische, Klassetannin, langer, fruchtiger Ausklang; hervorragender Wein, der lange reifen kann.*

JancisRobinson.com – 16/20pts – JR: *54% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Mid ruby. Blueberries and light soy on the nose. Very silky on entry, with a fine purity of blue and red fruits and gentle but persistent tannins. Vibrant acids cut through on the finish, tempering the sweeter spices and fruit.* - 11/2023

quarin.com – 95 pts - JMQ: * Couleur sombre et intense. Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité et subtil. Délicat en entrée de bouche, avec un toucher plutôt gras dans le déroulé, le vin caresse le palais, juteux et brillant dans sa définition aromatique. Il s'achève long, noble, sur une texture minutieuse. Ensemble plus précis que jamais, réalisé dans le nouveau cuvier organisé en tous petits contenants de 25 à 75 hl. Vignoble non touché ni par le gel, ni par le mildiou. Assemblage : 54% cabernet franc, 45% merlot, 1% cabernet sauvignon. Degré d'alcool: 14° - pH: 3,6. Rendement: 38 hl/ha.*

James Suckling – (94-95) pts: *This is very tangy and bright with real cabernet franc character, showing currant, orange and fresh-herb notes. Medium body with wonderful energy and acidity. Fine tannins. Racy and juicy. 54% cabernet franc, 45% merlot, and 1% cabernet sauvignon.*

Vinous.com – 91 pts – AG: *The 2021 Trotte Vieille is an attractive wine, but there is no getting past its light mid-palate and overall medium-bodied structure. Dark macerated cherry, spice, new leather, tobacco, herbs and licorice open gracefully, followed by floral and citrus notes that add lovely freshness. All the elements are very nicely balanced. All this is missing is depth.* - 12/2023

Vinous.com – 94 pts – NM: *The 2021 Trotte Vieille, which is still the first vintage vinified in their new facility (see my primeur note for details) has a refined, classic Right Bank bouquet with lifted dark berry fruit, crushed stone and less of the licorice element noted out of barrel, perhaps with more floral scents. The palate is fresh on the entry with sapid red fruit, very pure in style—almost pastille-like. But there's real depth in this Saint-Émilion, and as I remarked before, more detail, particularly on the finish. This is just a really delicious wine, one that notably gains charm in the glass, though I suspect it will benefit from cellar age.* - 11/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 95 pts – JL: *Quite floral in nature, with nuances of espresso, cherries, 5 spice and tobacco leaves. The palate is soft, silky, and fresh, with layers of elegant, sweet, cherries, red plums, and supple black raspberries with nuances of espresso, dark chocolate, and salt that lingers. This is quite successful for the vintage. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. The debut vintage made in the new cellars allows for parcel by parcel vinification. Drink from 2025-2055.* - 03/2024