Trotte Vieille, Chateau
Summary
Château Trotte Vieille is a historic Premier Grand Cru Classé B estate in Saint-Émilion, owned by the Castéja family since 1949, with 10 hectares of predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Franc vineyards planted on the limestone plateau's clay-limestone soils. The château maintains traditional methods including high-density planting and manual harvesting, while vinifying parcels separately in concrete and stainless steel tanks before aging in French oak for 12-18 months to express its distinctive terroir.
Heritage & Leadership
Château Trotte Vieille stands as one of Saint-Émilion's oldest wine estates, with origins dating to the 15th century. The property's name derives from local folklore about an elderly woman ("vieille") who would trot ("trotte") up and down the hill to visit her vines. In 1949, the estate achieved Premier Grand Cru Classé B status in the Saint-Émilion classification, a position it has maintained through subsequent revisions.
The Castéja family, through their négociant company Borie-Manoux, acquired Trotte Vieille in 1949 from the Berthomieu family. Philippe Castéja currently oversees the estate, continuing his family's stewardship of this historic property. Under his direction, the château has maintained its traditional approach while implementing targeted modernizations to enhance quality. The day-to-day management includes technical director Luc Plante, who supervises both vineyard work and cellar operations.
Vineyards & Wines
Château Trotte Vieille encompasses 10 hectares of vineyards situated on Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau, adjacent to the medieval town. This elevated position provides excellent drainage and exposure, contributing to the consistent ripening of the estate's grapes. The vineyard composition includes 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, with some vines exceeding 100 years of age.
The estate's terroir features a distinctive combination of limestone bedrock overlaid with clay-limestone soils of varying depths. This geological profile, coupled with the plateau's microclimate, creates conditions particularly favorable for Cabernet Franc, which reaches full phenolic ripeness here and contributes significant structural elements to the final wines.
The château produces approximately 30,000 bottles annually of its grand vin, Château Trotte Vieille, along with a second wine, La Vieille Dame de Trotte Vieille. The grand vin typically displays pronounced minerality, structural precision, and aging potential characteristic of Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau wines.
Philosophy & Practice
Trotte Vieille adheres to traditional viticultural practices, including high-density planting (8,000-10,000 vines per hectare), manual harvesting, and rigorous sorting. The estate employs sustainable farming methods, focusing on minimal intervention and careful canopy management to achieve optimal ripeness while maintaining the vineyard's long-term health.
In the cellar, fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled concrete and stainless steel tanks, with each vineyard parcel vinified separately. Malolactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels, followed by aging in French oak for 12-18 months, with approximately 50-60% new oak used each vintage. The final blend typically contains a higher proportion of Cabernet Franc than most Saint-Émilion properties, reflecting both the estate's terroir and its commitment to maintaining this historical planting.
The winemaking approach at Trotte Vieille balances respect for tradition with precise technical execution. Rather than chasing contemporary trends, the estate focuses on expressing its distinctive terroir through careful vineyard management and minimal intervention during vinification, resulting in wines that reflect both place and vintage with clarity and definition.