2021 Château Trotte Vieille 1er grand cru classé Saint-Emilion

JS94-95 This is very tangy and bright with real cabernet franc character, showing currant, orange and fresh-herb notes. Medium body with wonderful energy and acidity. Fine tannins. Racy and juicy. 54% cabernet franc, 45% merlot, and 1% cabernet sauvignon.
VIN94 The 2021 Trotte Vieille, which is still the first vintage vinified in their new facility (see my primeur note for details) has a refined, classic Right Bank bouquet with lifted dark berry fruit, crushed stone and less of the licorice element noted out of barrel, perhaps with more floral scents. The palate is fresh on the entry with sapid red fruit, very pure in style-almost pastille-like. But there’s real depth in this Saint-Émilion, and as I remarked before, more detail, particularly on the finish. This is just a really delicious wine, one that notably gains charm in the glass, though I suspect it will benefit from cellar age.