Tertre Roteboeuf - Saint Emilion Grand Cru red 2018

Grape

Merlot 85%, Cabernet Franc 15%

Tasting notes

Francois Mitjavile's brilliant and unique wine has a different character from that of all its Saint Emilion rivals. There is almost a Pinot Noir sweetness and exceptional purity. Only available in very limited quantities. Our visit to the unassuming cellars with their mud floors and dirty walls is always fascinating and a highlight of our trips to Bordeaux. Production is around 2000 cases annually with elevage in 100% new "Radoux blend" fine grain barrels. The south-facing vineyard produces wines that are ripe but never jammy. They frequently remind us of Le Pin and sometimes even of Musigny. A top performer at the annual Southwold blind tastings.

Vinous 96/100

"The 2018 Tertre-Roteboeuf is a rich, heady Saint-Emilion. Ripe, flamboyant and creamy, the 2018 captures all of the opulence of the vintage. Black fruit, bittersweet chocolate, spice, new leather and tobacco gradually open in the glass, but the 2018 is a dense, plush wine that needs time to show all it has to offer. The bouquet displays a bit of reduction, so opening the wine in advance and possibly decanting, are advisable. As always, Francois Mitjavile crafts one of the most distinctive wines in all of Bordeaux. [Antonio Galloni, 29/03/2021]

JancisRobinson.com 18/20

Luscious, sweet, verging on liquorice-coated rose petals. Big and apparently soft and hugely distinctive. More intense than most. Love/hate wine! [19/01/2022]

Jeb Dunnuck 97/100

The 2018 Tertre Roteboeuf is another powerful, opulent wine from this estate that reminds me a little of the 2005 with its density and tannic structure. Cassis, graphite, black raspberries, and tons of classy oak all emerge from this full-bodied beauty that has tons of fruit and texture, a stacked mid-palate, and a big finish. It’s a massive, sumptuous, and lavishly oaked and fruited wine that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for 25-30 years.