2018 Trottevieille

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Trotte Vieille opens with alluring scents of kirsch, baked plums and wild blueberries, plus hints of red roses, dark chocolate, tapenade and fertile loam. The medium to full-bodied palate has ripe, rounded tannins and lovely freshness supporting the juicy red and black fruits, finishing long with great purity.

Coming from the upper plateau and always including lots of Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château Trotte Vieille reveals a healthy ruby/purple color as well as elegant, complex notes of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, cedarwood, and violets. Beautifully balanced on the palate, it needs lots of air to show at its best, but it's medium to full-bodied and has a focused, firm texture, ripe tannins, and a beautiful finish. As always, this has an incredible floral character, and the purity of fruit is terrific. It needs 4-6 years in the cellar, but I suspect it will keep for 20 years or more. It's one of the finest wines I've tasted from this estate.

The 2018 TrotteVieille appears to have calmed down since I tasted it from barrel. High-toned black cherry and cassis fruit are still to the fore, though again, I would prefer to see more delineation. The palate is ripe on the entry with a sweet core of cassis and boysenberry, light veins of graphite and an opulent but controlled finish. As I commented from barrel, it needs a little more charm and personality, although it is very harmonious and quite precise.