| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Francois Mitjavile's brilliant and unique wine has a different character from that of all its Saint Emilion rivals and is 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 élevage in 100% new "Radoux blend" fine grain barrels. The south-facing vineyard produces wines that are sweet, 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. Unique and individual.
The 2022 harvest here was piucked in one day at the end of September. The MItjaviles believe that the wine has surprising acidity and freshness despite the depth and richness. Alcohol 15 degrees, less than in 2009, 2010 and 2018. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc.
Both the suavest and the most exotic cuvée in the Mitjaville portfolio, the 2022 Le Tertre Roteboeuf is a full-bodied, supple and fleshy wine evocative of blackberries, espresso roast, rose petals, spices and smoked meats. Concentrated, refined and seamless, it concludes with a long, aromatic finish. Readers might think of it as a cousin of the 2009 vintage, with its sweetness of fruit but rather ethereal, harmonious profile, which stands in contrast with more overtly powerful years, such as 2020 or 2010.
he 2022 Tertre-Rôteboeuf was bottled in August 2024— as Mitjavile explained, warmer winters require a longer élevage. As expected, it has an intense bouquet with layers of black cherries, cassis, violet and wild mint. The palate is medium-bodied and lightly spiced with grainy tannins. This comes across fresh, sapid and just a touch brittle toward the finish, which offers blood orange and dark chocolate. Excellent, and quintessentially Tertre-Rôteboeuf. 2030 - 2060
Deep ruby colour with lashings of spice on the nose together with woody herbs, sweet and polished red cherry and dark blackberry fruit. Gamey, with notes of roast duck, pepper and rosemary, this is a unique, delicious wine from Mitjaville. The tannins are silky sweet, melting into the confit fruit at the core. A seductive, full bodied yet energetic wine, there is a decadence here unlike any other wine this succesful in 2022. A powerful, enduring finish is marked again by the rich spice of Radoux oak - this will integrate in time but it makes this idiosyncratic wine one for lovers of the style.
The 2022 Tertre Roteboeuf is made from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, harvested on 1 October. Deep garnet-purple in color, it storms out of the glass with powerful notes of preserved plums, blueberry compote, and fruitcake, followed by suggestions of star anise, cedar chest, wilted roses, and unsmoked cigars. The super-concentrated, opulent, full-bodied palate is jam packed with black fruit preserves and exotic spices, maintaining impressive freshness and finishing very long with a mineral lift. This is a very different expression of the vintage - so Tertre Roteboeuf! pH 3.80-3.85.
The texture is the first thing that strikes you here, with pummice stone salinity and an unfussy, luxurious uncurling of flavours that makes you want to pull up a chair and take your time. Plenty of tar, cloves, liqourice and grilled cedar, alongside blackberry and raspberry fruit laced with pomegranate and orange peel bitterness, not avoiding but leaning into the vintage conditions. Confident and full of limestone character, just a beautiful wine from the Mitjavile family in a year full of paradox. Harvest October 1-2. 100% new oak, medium plus toasting, which is where this tar grilling comes from. No crushing of the grapes but full destemming, no cold soaks, unfiltered until just before bottling. 100% of the vineyard always in Tertre Roteboeuf.
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.
True to style. Exuberant nose (fruit, spice, chocolate and menthol notes) and plush texture. Rich but dry on the finish. Suave and seductive with generous fruit and plentiful but very fine tannins. (JL) 15%
Drink 2028– 2040
The 2022 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is very deep in color. It has a very intense bouquet with Dorset plum, raspberry coulis, touches of fennel and fresh fig. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with plenty of structure, pure mulberry, blackberry and raspberry fruit, white pepper and curry leaf. It is a more exotic Saint-Émilion, but I would not describe it as exotic. It's just very Tertre-Rôteboeuf ! 2030-2060
