The 2009 Trotte Vieille has a very fine bouquet with a mixture of red and black fruit, chestnut and truffle developing in the glass and then hints of morels. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a sharp opening, spicy and vibrant with impressive attack before settling down towards a refined and quite persistent, hoisin-tinged finish. A fine, expressive Cabernet Franc here. Excellent. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' annual Ten Year On tasting.

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Trotte Vieille gives up notions of spice cake, potpourri and dusty soil with a core of prunes, chocolate-covered cherries and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has quite a chewy texture with a refreshing line cutting through the evolved, savory layers, finishing a little firm.

(67% cabernet franc, 31% merlot and 2% cabernet sauvignon) Ruby-red. Perfumed aromas of chocolate-covered cherry, violet, cedar and graphite. Rich and full-bodied, with somewhat chunky, powerful red fruit flavors complicated by chocolate syrup and a light peppery quality. The firmly tannic, long finish could use a little more finesse. Interestingly, even though the merlot was picked quite late (October 10), this wine does not show aromas of surmaturite