2025, Château Trotte Vieille, SAINT-ÉMILION, 1er Grand Cru ClasséThis Saint Emilion property is owned by the Castja family of Chteau Batailley. Impressive quality here in recent vintages. some of the Cabernet Franc is over 100 years old. In 2025 they are bottling some wine in the historic Bordeaux Marie Jeanne format 2. 25l (or three bottles). Individually boxed. 51% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Merlot. The 2025 Trotte Vieille soars out of the glass. Freshly cut flowers, mocha, dried herbs, menthol

almost briny (perhaps accentuated by the changeable weather on the day of my visit)

The bouquet alone is so enticing

The 2024 La Mission Haut-Brion has a beautifully defined bouquet with pure

The full-bodied palate is impactful from first sip

53 year old vines - fully destemmed

taut and tensile

rich and sensual wine with a sweet

Elegance with structure

with etched tannins that grip this Nebbiolo firmly to the palate

19+/20 Matthew Jukes

touch of cloves and again this white pepper character

The density of fruit is serious with blackcurrants