1999 Château Trotte Vieille - I've had just a few vintages of this St-Emilion premier grand cru "B" before - only 3, if I recall properly, namely, the 1983, 1990 and 1997, but these were several years ago and none of which I thought much of.
Basically, it was dark plum, bit of black cherry and blackcurrant, anise, tar/dark minerality, a dose of green bell pepper, tobacco, cedar, bit of violets and a hefty touch of wood. The tar, dark minerals, bell pepper and anise are obtrusive.
It is a very dry wine, evident touch of green steminess - likely its higher than usual percentage (for the appellation) cabernet franc did not ripen well due to vintage rains.
Not a good '99, it shows the vintage weakness unlike the '99 Latour, Margaux, Palmer, Montrose, etc. (come to think of it, I seem to much prefer the Médocs over right banks in '99). Big flavor presence/push on the palate, but it seems forced or "pilit" in that the heft cannot justify the flavors' push - the balance is off for me.
Still, for lack of anything else, it was a halfway decent quaffer with the steak. This was purchased from Ralph's, the price I did not ask. I hope it was cheap.