Chateau Trotte Vieille Premier Grand Cru Classe B, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2019

Intense and concentrated on the nose, so full of aromas, rich and complex. Succulent and sophisticated, this is just so delicious. Crunchy strawberry and red cherry fruit with bright and round edges change into deep and heady blackcurrant and plum with a cool and liquorice spiced aspect as the wine makes an impact and travels from start to finish. The texture is smooth and fine, with a sense of life and joy, while the flavours are layered and complex. This has a really captivating spice to it, not at all harsh but present and indicative of the alcohol, that gives the wine frame and body. Serious with a very long life ahead but I love the way it changes in the glass giving you small hints of glamour, power and personality.

A really classy, beautiful red with seduction and force at the finish. Aromas and flavors of currants, wet earth and truffles, as well as mushrooms. Full bodied, tight and tannic. Toned and steely. A new, traditional style. 49% cabernet franc, 48% merlot and 3% cabernet sauvignon.

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.

Gorgeously pure notes of blue fruits, violets, spring flowers, and graphite emerge from the 2019 Château Trotte Vieille, a silky, concentrated, sensational Saint-Emilion. Clearly the finest vintage from this château I've tasted, it's medium to full-bodied, has a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It's a "wow" wine in the vintage that can be drunk today or cellared for two decades. Bravo!

The 2019 Trotte Vieille is just starting to open in its aromatics, although it remains quite potent on the palate. Cinnamon, cloves, new leather, chocolate and crushed autumn leaves are some of the signatures. Layers of fruit build into the huge, resonant finish. The ferocious, impenetrable tannins are a reminder of the far more potent style that was once in fashion here.

The 2019 Trotte Vieille has closed up a little on the nose, yet there are still very attractive black cherries and iodine scents on the nose that gradually unfold with aeration. A touch of fresh fig appears in the background. The well-balanced palate delivers pure blackberry and raspberry fruit laced with graphite and minerals. Almost Left Bank in style, this shows great clarity and fans out wonderfully on the finish. Superb.