Château Trottevieille

Château Trottevieille has documented roots stretching back to 1453, making it one of Saint-Émilion's most historically significant estates. Marcel Borie acquired the property in 1947 and oversaw it through the 1960s, after which it passed to his son-in-law Émile Castéja. Philippe Castéja assumed management in the 1990s and has driven a well-documented phase of quality improvements since the 2010s. In 2012, the estate integrated the vines of the neighboring Château Bergat, adding further resources to the already distinguished terroir. A state-of-the-art winery was completed in 2021, signaling continued investment in the estate's future.

• Ownership traces through Borie family to the Castéja family via marriage
• Château Bergat vines absorbed into the estate in 2012
• New winery built in 2021 to support quality ambitions
• Philippe Castéja has managed the estate since the 1990s

The estate occupies 12 hectares on a southwest-facing slope in Saint-Émilion, benefiting from good sun exposure and natural drainage. The soils consist of a shallow 30 to 40 centimeter layer of clay sitting directly over a limestone plateau, a combination that delivers both water retention and the mineral character the estate is known for. The temperate Aquitanian oceanic climate, moderated by the nearby Dordogne and Barbanne rivers, provides reliable growing conditions across vintages. The vineyard contains Cabernet Franc vines planted in 1868, surviving pre-phylloxera stock that now exceed 150 years in age, a remarkable viticultural asset that contributes concentration and complexity to the blend.

• Southwest-facing aspect maximizes sun exposure on the limestone plateau
• Shallow clay topsoil (30-40 cm) over solid limestone bedrock
• Climate moderated by the Dordogne and Barbanne rivers
• Pre-phylloxera Cabernet Franc vines from 1868 remain in production

Trottevieille's blend is defined by an unusually close balance between Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Merlot accounts for 49% of plantings while Cabernet Franc stands at 46%, a significantly higher proportion of Cabernet Franc than most Saint-Émilion estates. Cabernet Sauvignon makes up the remaining 5%. This near-parity between the two dominant varieties, combined with the exceptional age of the Cabernet Franc vines, shapes the estate's signature profile of structure and aromatic complexity. The old-vine Cabernet Franc, some blocks now over 150 years old, contributes intensity and a mineral precision that distinguishes Trottevieille from many of its peers on the plateau.

• Merlot 49%, Cabernet Franc 46%, Cabernet Sauvignon 5%
• Cabernet Franc proportion is exceptionally high for Saint-Émilion
• Pre-phylloxera Cabernet Franc vines planted 1868 still producing
• Old-vine concentration contributes intensity and mineral precision

Château Trottevieille produces a red wine recognized for elegance, roundness, and considerable length on the palate. Minerality is a defining characteristic, directly reflecting the limestone substrate beneath the shallow clay soils. The high proportion of old-vine Cabernet Franc adds a structural backbone and aromatic finesse that sets it apart from more Merlot-dominant Saint-Émilion neighbors. The second wine, Dame de Trottevieille, was launched in the 2000s and subsequently renamed in 2010. It offers an accessible entry point to the estate's style while the grand vin benefits from the most expressive parcels and oldest vines.

• Grand vin known for elegance, roundness, minerality, and great length
• Second wine Dame de Trottevieille introduced in the 2000s, renamed 2010
• Limestone terroir directly informs the wine's mineral character
• Quality trajectory has improved measurably since the 2010s