Trotte Vieille

History of Château Trotte Vieille

The origins of Château Trotte Vieille date back to the 15th century, as attested by a leasing contract written in the Gascon language. The legend behind the château's name is equally fascinating: a curious old lady, living on the estate at the time, would regularly trot to a nearby coaching inn to keep informed of the latest news. This is how the name "Trotte Vieille" has endured through the centuries.

In the 18th century, the estate belonged to Jean Laveau, owner of Château Villemaurine. In 1841, lawyer Isambert, who also owned Château l'Évangile in Pomerol, acquired the estate. The year 1867 marked an important milestone in the history of Château Trotte Vieille, with the winning of a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition.

However, in 1868, the estate was divided among several owners, before being reunified in 1898 under the direction of Edouard Jean. After several successions, Joséphine Gibaud managed the estate from 1929 to 1942. The great transformation occurred in 1947, when Marcel Borie, founder of the Borie-Manoux trading house, purchased the estate.

Under the direction of the Borie family and, later, the Castéja family, the estate consolidated its status as Premier Grand Cru. In the 2000s, under Philippe Castéja's management, the estate launched "Vieille Dame de Trotte Vieille", the château's second wine, while continuing to perfect its viticultural techniques and commitment to sustainable viticulture.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Trotte Vieille

The vineyard of Château Trotte Vieille spans 12 hectares in the northeast of Saint-Émilion, on a slope benefiting from a southwest exposure, characterised by clay soils on a limestone bedrock. This exceptional terroir, shared only with prestigious estates like Château Ausone, plays a central role in the quality of the estate's wines.

The grape varieties are predominantly Merlot (49%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (46%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). These vines, with an average age of around 60 years, include an exceptional plot of Cabernet Franc planted in 1868, before the phylloxera crisis, making it one of the oldest vine plots in Bordeaux.

Since 2021, the estate has been certified High Environmental Value (HVE), applying sustainable farming practices. The vineyard is cultivated to preserve its natural ecosystem, with vines aligned along the slopes to promote optimal drainage and limit the use of chemicals. Each step of the vineyard work, from pruning to harvesting, is carried out with care to ensure the best quality grapes.

Winemaking at Château Trotte Vieille

The winemaking process at Château Trotte Vieille reflects a meticulous approach, with modern practices combining tradition and precision. Each plot of the vineyard is vinified separately to preserve the unique identity of each micro-terroir.

The grapes, hand-harvested in small crates to avoid any alteration, are carefully sorted before being put into vats. Cold pre-fermentation maceration allows for the extraction of fruity aromas. Fermentations take place at low temperatures for better flavour control, followed by post-fermentation maceration that depends on tastings.

Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels and vats, ensuring a silky texture to the wines. After vinification, the wines are aged for 18 to 24 months in new French oak barrels. The ageing of the wines is regularly monitored with rackings every 3 to 4 months and blends carefully made based on tastings.

The cuvées of Château Trotte Vieille

Château Trotte Vieille - Grand Vin

The Grand Vin of Château Trotte Vieille is a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé Premier Grand Cru since 1955. This wine is distinguished by its finesse and exceptional longevity. It presents itself with a deep red colour and a powerful nose blending aromas of red and black fruits.

On the palate, it reveals a beautiful structure, silky tannins and spicy, peppery notes. Its finish is fruity and flavourful, a true testament to the expertise and unique terroir of Trotte Vieille.

Dame de Trotte Vieille - Second Wine

Dame de Trotte Vieille is the château's second wine, made from the youngest vines. This wine, also classified as Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, charms with its elegance and harmony. Adorned with a garnet colour, it unveils a fruity, floral nose, with aromas of wood and coffee. On the palate, it is generous, fresh, with round tannins and notes of red fruits. This wine also offers a nice length on the finish, making it an excellent choice for more immediate consumption, while still maintaining good ageing potential.

Vieilles Vignes du Château Trotte Vieille - Special Cuvée

The estate also produces a special cuvée from century-old vines planted before the phylloxera crisis. This cuvée, not commercially available, is one of the rarest in Bordeaux, with only 135 hand-engraved bottles produced each year. This exceptional wine is exclusively made from Cabernet Franc, sourced from the estate's oldest vines.

Saint-Émilion, a jewel of the Bordeaux wine region, has produced vintages of exceptional quality over the years, delighting connoisseurs of fine wines. Among the legendary vintages, one can cite 1947, 1959, and 1961, true icons that have marked the history of Bordeaux wines. The famous 1982 remains an undisputable reference. The following decades were equally impressive, with remarkable vintages such as 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2005, all acclaimed for their richness and ageing potential. More recently, the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 vintages have shone through their balance and depth, reaffirming Saint-Émilion's reputation as one of Bordeaux's most sought-after appellations, where each new year continues to captivate fine wine enthusiasts with its consistent quality and elegance.

The classification of Saint-Émilion's Premiers Grands Crus Classés B, reviewed every 10 years, highlights exceptional châteaux from the Right Bank vineyard. Among those that continue to feature in this prestigious category are emblematic names such as Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Château Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau Lagarrosse, Château Bélair-Monange, Château Canon, Château Pavie-Macquin, Château Troplong-Mondot, Château Trottevieille, and Clos Fourtet. Others, promoted in 2012, such as Château Canon-La-Gaffelière, Château Larcis-Ducasse, Château La Mondotte, and Château Valandraud, also illustrate the ever-increasing quality of the region's growths. However, some châteaux are no longer classified, such as La Gaffelière (since 2022) and Magdelaine (since 2006). This constant renewal ensures the excellence and evolution of the Saint-Émilion vineyard, where tradition and innovation blend harmoniously.

Château Trotte Vieille, with its centuries of history and exceptional vines, perfectly embodies the viticultural excellence of Saint-Émilion. Classified as Premier Grand Cru since 1955, it continues to produce wines recognised for their elegance, complexity and ageing potential. The estate's commitment to sustainable agriculture and the attention paid to each stage of production ensure wines of very high quality, from the Grand Vin to the second wine, Dame de Trotte Vieille.