Château Trotte Vieille

History of Château Trotte Vieille

The origins of Château Trotte Vieille date back to the 15th century, as documented by a lease written in Gascon. The legend behind the château’s name is just as fascinating: a curious elderly woman who lived on the estate would regularly trot over to a nearby post house to hear the latest news. That 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 Château Trotte Vieille’s history when it won a gold medal at the World’s Fair.

In 1868, however, the estate was divided among several owners before being reunited in 1898 under Edouard Jean. After several changes of ownership through inheritance, Joséphine Gibaud managed the estate from 1929 to 1942. The major transformation came in 1947, when Marcel Borie, founder of the Borie-Manoux wine merchant house, bought the estate.

Under the Borie family and, later, the Castéja family, the estate cemented its Premier Grand Cru status. In the 2000s, under Philippe Castéja’s management, the estate introduced "Vieille Dame de Trotte Vieille", the château’s second wine, while continuing to refine its viticultural techniques and commitment to sustainable winegrowing.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Château Trotte Vieille

The Château Trotte Vieille vineyard covers 12 hectares northeast of Saint-Émilion, on a southwest-facing slope with clay soils over limestone bedrock. This exceptional terroir, shared with only a few prestigious estates such as Château Ausone, plays a central role in the quality of the estate’s wines.

The vineyard is planted primarily with Merlot (49%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (46%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The vines average around 60 years of age and include an exceptional parcel of Cabernet Franc planted in 1868, before the phylloxera crisis, making it one of Bordeaux’s oldest vineyard parcels.

Since 2021, the estate has held High Environmental Value (HVE) certification and has followed 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. Every stage of vineyard work, from pruning to harvest, is carried out with care to ensure the best possible grape quality.

Winemaking at Château Trotte Vieille

Winemaking at Château Trotte Vieille follows a meticulous approach, with modern practices that combine tradition and precision. Each vineyard parcel is vinified separately to preserve the unique character of its micro-terroir. 

The grapes are harvested by hand into small crates to prevent damage, then meticulously sorted before going into the tanks. Cold pre-fermentation maceration extracts fruit aromas. Fermentation takes place at low temperatures for greater control of flavors, followed by post-fermentation maceration guided by tastings.

Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels and tanks, giving the wines a silky texture. After vinification, the wines are aged for 18 to 24 months in new French oak barrels. Aging is monitored regularly, with racking every 3 to 4 months and blends carefully determined through tasting.

The Wines of Château Trotte Vieille

Château Trotte Vieille - Fine Wine

The fine wine of Château Trotte Vieille is a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru that has held Premier Grand Cru Classé status since 1955. It stands out for its finesse and exceptional longevity. It has a deep red color and a powerful nose combining red and black fruit aromas.

On the palate, it reveals fine structure, silky tannins and spicy, peppery notes. Its long finish is fruity and flavorful, a true reflection of Trotte Vieille’s expertise and unique terroir.

Dame de Trotte Vieille - Second Wine

La Dame de Trotte Vieille is the château’s second wine, made from its younger vines. Also classified Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, it charms with its elegance and harmony. Garnet in color, it offers a fruity, floral nose with aromas of wood and coffee. On the palate, it is generous and fresh, with rounded tannins and notes of red fruit. It also has a pleasingly long finish, making it an excellent choice for earlier drinking while retaining good aging 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. Not offered for sale, this cuvée is one of Bordeaux’s rarest, with only 135 hand-engraved bottles produced each year. This exceptional wine is made exclusively from Cabernet Franc grown on the estate’s oldest vines.

Saint-Émilion, a jewel of the Bordeaux wine region, has produced vintages of exceptional quality over the years, delighting lovers of fine wine. Legendary vintages include 1947, 1959 and 1961, true icons that have left their mark on Bordeaux wine history. The celebrated 1982 remains an undisputed benchmark. The following decades also brought remarkable vintages such as 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005, all acclaimed for their richness and aging potential. More recently, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020 have stood out for their balance and depth, reaffirming Saint-Émilion’s reputation as one of Bordeaux’s most sought-after appellations, where each new vintage continues to win over fine-wine enthusiasts with its consistent quality and elegance.

The Premiers Grands Crus Classés B classification of Saint-Émilion, reviewed every 10 years, highlights exceptional châteaux on the Right Bank. Among those that remain 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 rising quality of the region’s wines. By contrast, some châteaux are no longer classified, including La Gaffelière (since 2022) and Magdelaine (since 2006). This ongoing renewal reflects the excellence and evolution of Saint-Émilion’s vineyards, where tradition and innovation come together harmoniously.

With its centuries of history and exceptional vines, Château Trotte Vieille perfectly embodies Saint-Émilion’s winemaking excellence. Classified Premier Grand Cru since 1955, it continues to produce wines recognized for their elegance, complexity and aging potential. The estate’s commitment to sustainable farming and the care taken at every stage of production ensure wines of very high quality, from the fine wine to the second wine, La Dame de Trotte Vieille.