Chateau Trottevieille 2006

Chateau Trottevieille 2006 is a 750ml, 13.5% ABV St-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé B red Bordeaux from one of the Right Bank's most historic estates. Rated 89 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, which described the bouquet as elegant with melted tar, truffle, and red berry fruit, this vintage stands out for its Cabernet Franc-dominant blend drawn partly from pre-phylloxera vines.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: St-Émilion, Bordeaux, France  |  Vintage: 2006  |  Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé B  |  Estate: Château Trottevieille

Production & Heritage

Château Trottevieille sits on the limestone plateau of St-Émilion and holds Premier Grand Cru Classé B status, a designation reserved for a small tier of the appellation's top estates. The 2006 blend is notably Cabernet Franc-led at 56%, joined by 43% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon — an unusually high proportion of Franc for the Right Bank. The wine was aged in 100% new French oak barrels. What makes Trottevieille especially rare is that portions of its vineyard contain vines over 100 years old, including pre-phylloxera plantings — among the oldest surviving vines on the Right Bank — most of which are Cabernet Franc.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Initially discreet, the nose opens gradually to reveal mulberry, plum, and blackberry aromas layered with black tea, earth, smoke, and melted tar. Extended air brings out truffle and subtle floral tones that add genuine complexity.

Taste: The entry is composed and medium-bodied, with fresh red plum and mulberry fruit meeting a core of chocolaty, smoky, earthy character. The mid-palate unfolds with a silky, layered texture and a burst of blackberry intensity, while leafy, cedary undertones add structure. Acidity is well-balanced, and the alcohol integrates seamlessly.

Finish: Refined tannins carry the wine into a moderately long finish marked by black tea, cocoa, and lingering soil notes. The texture remains satiny, tapering with a slightly austere, mineral edge characteristic of Trottevieille's terroir.

How to Drink Trottevieille 2006

At nearly two decades of age, this wine is best served at 16–18°C (61–64°F) with a generous decant of 30 to 60 minutes to allow its complex secondary aromas to fully emerge. Drinking neat from a large-bowled Bordeaux glass is the ideal approach — this is a wine built for contemplation rather than mixing. Its truffle and earthy notes reward slow, deliberate sipping alongside food.

Best For

• A special dinner featuring aged Bordeaux alongside classic French cuisine
• Gifting a collector interested in mature Right Bank wines with pre-phylloxera heritage
• Adding a drinking-window Premier Grand Cru Classé to a personal cellar
• Hosting a comparative tasting of 2006 St-Émilion classified growths

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Trottevieille 2006 taste like? It is a medium-bodied, elegantly structured wine dominated by mulberry, plum, and blackberry fruit interwoven with truffle, smoke, black tea, and cocoa. The texture is satiny with refined tannins and an earthy, moderately long finish.

How does Trottevieille 2006 compare to Canon 2006? Both are Premier Grand Cru Classé B St-Émilion wines from the 2006 vintage; professional critics have noted the 2006 Canon shows more refinement on the palate, while Trottevieille brings a distinctive smoky, earthy, Cabernet Franc-driven character from its notably old vines. Trottevieille's 56% Cabernet Franc blend also gives it a more angular, structured profile than the typically Merlot-heavy Canon.

Is Trottevieille 2006 good for sipping neat? Yes, it is best enjoyed neat after decanting, as its aged bouquet of truffle, tar, and dark fruit is most expressive in a still glass. A splash of air opens the initially reserved nose considerably.

Where is Trottevieille 2006 made? Château Trottevieille is located on the limestone plateau of the St-Émilion appellation in Bordeaux, France. It is one of the appellation's classified estates, holding Premier Grand Cru Classé B status.

What foods pair well with Trottevieille 2006? Roasted duck breast complements the wine's earthy, smoky character. Braised lamb shoulder echoes its plum and black tea notes. Aged Comté or Gruyère mirrors the wine's nutty oak influence. Truffle risotto amplifies the truffle-forward bouquet. Pan-seared venison with a berry reduction bridges the wine's fruit and savory elements.

What sizes does Trottevieille 2006 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this vintage.

Is Trottevieille 2006 worth the price? As a Premier Grand Cru Classé B St-Émilion with nearly two decades of bottle age and fruit sourced from pre-phylloxera vines, Trottevieille 2006 positions in the premium tier for mature classified Bordeaux. Its 89-point Parker score places it as a solid rather than exceptional vintage for the estate, which may translate to relative value compared to higher-rated years.

Why Trottevieille 2006?

The most compelling reason to seek out this wine is its provenance: fruit from vines that predate the phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century, making Trottevieille one of a handful of Right Bank estates with such living history still contributing to production. The 2006 vintage's Cabernet Franc-dominant blend at 56% is rare for St-Émilion and gives the wine a structural signature distinct from its Merlot-heavy neighbors. Aged in 100% new oak and now with significant bottle maturity, it has evolved into a complex, secondary-noted wine where truffle, tar, smoke, and earth have woven into the fruit. For collectors and drinkers drawn to terroir-driven Bordeaux with genuine historical pedigree, this is an estate and a vintage that rewards attention.