critic reviews
The 2019 Trotte Vieille, a blend of 49% Cabernet Franc, 48% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, is deep garnet-purple in color. It features notes of cedar and underbrush to begin, opening out to baked blackberries, boysenberry preserves, and wild sage scents with a waft of cloves. The densely packed, full-bodied palate has a refreshing backbone and chewy tannins, with savory layers and a lifted finish.
The 2019 Trottevieille has a slightly disjointed bouquet at first, though it melds together over time, with dusky red fruit laced and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with a sapid entry, moderate depth, not amazingly complex with just a little dryness creeping in on the finish. Yet there is promise here and I feel that it is just beginning to close down. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
Trotte Vieille often needs a few years in bottle to soften the austerity that comes from such high levels of Cabernet Franc on pretty much pure limestone soils. This 2019 is going to be worth the wait, and is just as exceptionally poised and deft as it was En Primeur. You get mouthwatering slate scrape, with a lick of saffron, white pepper and crushed stones but this is also showing clear gourmet notes of liqourice, plump raspberry and blackberry fruits, and cappuccino cream that reflect the ripeness of the vintage. Love it.