Tertre Rôteboeuf 2005

A sensational effort, Tertre Roteboeuf's 2005, along with the 2000, is one of the most profound wines made by Francois Mitjavile. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by a stunning perfume of sweet black currants, jammy cherries, licorice, and spice. Full-bodied and opulent with high, but remarkably sweet, velvety tannins as well as a stunning texture and a finish that lasts nearly a minute, this prodigious St.-Emilion should be drinkable in 3-4 years, and last for two decades or more. Kudos to the proprietor. Drink 2011-2031.

It is still early days for the 2005 Tertre Rôtebeouf, but the wine is already quite expressive, bursting with spicy ripe blackcurrant, tar, mocha and some incipient truffly soil tones. On the palate the wine is rich, broad and structured, and is much less expansive and open at this stage than the 2000 as the tannins really need a few more years to melt away. This will be spectacular in the fullness of time.

Tasted single blind at Southwold. This showed even better than the bottle Francois opened in September. Tasted blind, it has a wily seductive, Merlot-driven nose that is just so pure with scents of violets and blueberries. The palate makes a grand entrance, real depth and immense concentration here, superb acidity, spicy dark cherry, cranberry, raspberry fruit laced with espresso and Asian spice. Seamless tannins on the finish. Iron fist/velvet glove blah…blah…blah…Drink 2012-2035.

Beautiful fruit with a Burgundian style. Pure and aromatic. Full-bodied, with gorgeous fruit and a long, long finish. Seductive. This is a fascinating and cerebral wine that wows you with its beauty. This could easily move up to a classic rating.

Tasted blind. Healthy glowing dark crimson. Heady, very Merlot nose. Sweet start and then gives way to acidity and fine tannins. This could already give pleasure if served with food.
Drink 2016-2034

Good deep medium ruby. Wonderfully perfumed, fresh aromas of blackberry, raspberry, licorice, spices and violet pastille. Brilliantly pure and energetic, with outstanding flavor intensity and inner-mouth perfume. Still an infant today, with primary black fruits dominating. But this has the spicy, floral perfume of the greatest vintages of this wine. The ripely tannic, palate-saturating finish is wonderfully long and vibrant. "Our most beautiful vintage since 1990," notes Mitjavile.

Came tenth out of 184 wines

Marvellous wine even if not completely finished: complex nose of ultra-ripe grapes, velvety texture, fabulous length, but above all tremendous individuality. A wine made by a great artist for imaginative drinkers. Drink from 2013.