Château Trotte Vieille

History of Château Trotte Vieille

The origins of Château Trotte Vieille date back to the 15th century, attested by a farming lease written in the Gascon language. The legend behind the name of the château is equally fascinating: a curious old lady who lived on the estate would regularly trot to a nearby coaching inn to keep herself informed of the latest news. And so 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, the lawyer Isambert, also owner of Château l'Évangile in Pomerol, acquired the estate. The year 1867 marks an important milestone in the history of Château Trotte Vieille, with the award 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, it was Joséphine Gibaud who managed the estate from 1929 to 1942. The great transformation came in 1947, when Marcel Borie, founder of the négociant house Borie-Manoux, purchased the estate.

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

Terroirs and Vines of Château Trotte Vieille

The vineyard of Château Trotte Vieille spans 12 hectares in the north-east of Saint-Émilion, on a hillside with a south-westerly exposure, characterised by clay soils on a limestone bedrock. This exceptional terroir, shared only with prestigious estates such as 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 Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE), applying sustainable farming practices. The vineyard is cultivated in a way that preserves its natural ecosystem, with vines aligned along the hillsides to promote optimal drainage and limit the use of chemical products. Every stage of vineyard work, from pruning to harvest, is carried out with care to ensure the highest quality grapes.

Winemaking at Château Trotte Vieille

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

The grapes, harvested by hand in small crates to avoid any alteration, are meticulously sorted before being placed in the vats. Cold pre-fermentation maceration is used to extract fruity aromas. Fermentations take place at low temperatures for better control of flavours, followed by post-fermentation maceration determined by tasting sessions.

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

The Cuvées of Château Trotte Vieille

Château Trotte Vieille - Fine Wine

The Fine Wine 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 a deep red colour and a powerful nose combining 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 flavoursome, a true testament to the expertise and unique terroir of Trotte Vieille.

Dame de Trotte Vieille - Second Wine

La Dame de Trotte Vieille is the château's second wine, crafted from the youngest vines. This wine, also classified as Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, captivates with its elegance and harmony. Dressed in a garnet robe, it reveals a fruity, floral nose with aromas of wood and coffee. On the palate, it is indulgent and fresh, with round tannins and notes of red fruits. This wine also offers a beautiful lingering finish, making it an excellent choice for more immediate consumption, while still retaining a good ageing potential.

Old Vines of Château Trotte Vieille - Special Cuvée

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

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

The classification of Premiers Grands Crus Classés B of Saint-Émilion, revised every 10 years, shines a spotlight on exceptional châteaux from the Right Bank vineyard. Among those that continue to feature in this prestigious category are iconic 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-rising quality of the region's crus. Conversely, certain châteaux are no longer classified, such as La Gaffelière (since 2022) and Magdelaine (since 2006). This constant renewal guarantees 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 winemaking excellence of Saint-Émilion. Classified as Premier Grand Cru since 1955, it continues to produce wines renowned for their elegance, complexity and ageing potential. The estate's commitment to sustainable farming and the attention devoted to every stage of production ensure wines of the very highest quality, from the Fine Wine to the second wine, La Dame de Trotte Vieille.