TERTRE ROTEBOEUF- ONE OF THE BEST BORDEAUX WINES - AND THIS PROPERTY ISN'T EVEN CLASSIFIED!
By Izak Litwar
My very first meeting with Francois Mitjavile and Château Tertre Roteboeuf took place in May 1987, after I read wine-guru Robert Parker's superlatives about this small property in his "The Wine Advocate". Meeting with the articulate and eloquent Francois Mitjavile and his wine surpassed all my expectations. The things he explained a...
Château Le Tertre Rôteboeuf, is a St. Emilion Grand Cru property that is in the very top echelon of St-Emilion producers. Le Tertre Rôteboeuf is owned by François Mitjavile who also owns Château Roc de Cambes in the Côtes de Bourg. François produces just over 2,000 cases a year from his tiny 5.7-hectare vineyard, which is situated on a steep slope on the edge of a limestone plateau.
...There are 5.7 ha of vines planted with 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Merlot-vines are on average 45 years old, while Cabernet Franc ones are 5 years older. The subsoil consists of four different kinds of clay, which are resting on the bed of lime-stones. This combination of subsoil which is typical for the majority of vineyard in Saint-Émilion "Côtes" (slopes), is described as "cold soil", because clay needs a long time to be warmed up, a...
The grapes (Merlot 80%, Cabernet Franc 20%) are harvested by hand and are fermented in temperature-controlled concrete tanks. Le Tertre Rôteboeuf is then aged in 100% new oak barrels for 18 months. Yields are kept very low and consequently this is one of the most concentrated wines to be found in Bordeaux.
Typically, Le Tertre Rôteboeuf is deeply coloured, richly aromatic on the nose and packed with blackcurrants, overripe cherries, liquori...
What's really the secret behind Tertre Roteboeuf's and Roc de Cambes' success? All the work Francois Mitjavile does, is extremely well thought out, it is his love to wine and intuition who drives him. In addition to it, he has a lot of courage and self-belief. Francois Mitjavile takes often risks, which other winemakers in Bordeaux do not dare. At the same time, he is incredibly self-confident and focused. This makes him a really complex winem...
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