Review: Chateau Trimoulet 1991 Grand Cru Classe
- vinterest
- Aug 24, 2014
- 2 min read
The low-down: A 23 year old delight from a St Emilion Grand Cru Classe chateau under the same family's ownership for 300 years! The blend is 60% merlot with 35% cabernet franc and 5% cabernet sauvignon.
The 1991 vintage has 11.5% alcohol content. Current St Emilion vintages will typically have ~14.0% which in my opinion is a real shame. I have come across two reasons for the increase. Firstly, global warming means hotter summers, bigger grapes with more sugar which ferments to higher alcohol content. Secondly, to appease the demands of the "Parker" crew (your typical American drinker apparently) that prefer more alcoholic wines. Now I'm no party pooper but this is wine not bourbon!
My drinking partners A and T have known the producers, the Jean family, for many years now and it's a pleasure every time we see them that we receive a treasure from their cellar. At my wedding we opened a 1981 which was still peaking!
For Dubai residents, Emirates Airlines recently began serving Trimoulet on business class.
The take: On appearance, a transparent orangey-red with a light, white edge. Oily and viscous. On the nose, initally blackcurrant with old leather, game and smoked meats. On the attack, rich, fleshy, smooth, sour and leathery. Remarkably, it has retained its strength after two decades. With time, cherry, blackcurrant, chalk, and the earthy spice of the cabernet franc.
In closing: Intriguingly gamey and leathery, very smooth and with surprising strength for an old lady.
Rating: 9 out of 10.
Fact corner:
Country: France
Region: St Emilion Grand Cru Classe (AOC)
Producer: Chateau Trimoulet
Vintage: 1991
Grape: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol content: 11.5%
Serving temperature: n/a
Price range: Premium
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