Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2015 Trotte Vieille opens with cedary overtones giving way to a core of stewed plums, blackberry preserves, and rose oil, plus hints of Sichuan pepper and smoked meats. The full-bodied palate is still very tightly wound, with firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness to support the taut fruit, fishing long and earthy.

The 2015 Trotte Vieille has an attractive bouquet with cedar and tobacco-tinged red fruit, well defined and poised with more terroir expression that many of its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, licorice-tinged red fruit with fine delineation toward the poised finish. This is an excellent Trotte Vieille that probably will deserve a higher score with bottle age. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.