Black liquorice really quite strong on the nose with tobacco and spice. The palate is equally rich and full, brimming with textured ripe tannins, thick strawberry and cherry fruit, dashes of plum, date and fig giving warmth from the vintage with a full body. Tannins are a mixture between chalky, straight and fleshy, so there's lots of textural nuance here. It's confident for sure, lacking a little grace, but well structured, forward and intense. The acidity is lovely though and really does well to lift the expression and give a salty tang to the finish. This definitely has charm with touches of sweetness and acidity that are moreish. Leaves a lingering impression. A lot of wine but manages to keep a straight direction and good forward motion. More of an attack than the 2006.

Owned by the Castéja family, Trottevieille has one parcel of some of the oldest vines in St.-Emilion. Dense purple, the 2005 is better at age 10 then earlier. The wine has beautiful blueberry, plum and blackcurrant fruit, an attractive underlying minerality, medium to full body, sweet tannin, and a long, layered, complex finish. Drink it over the next 15-20 years. Drink 2015 - 2035.