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Tertre Rôteboeuf 2012

Tasting Notes

Picked on 9th October and a blend of 20% Cabernet Franc and 80% Merlot, Francois Mitjavile's 2012 has a wonderfully pixelated bouquet with pellucid dark cherries, fresh raspberry and minerals. It is not as intense as either the 2009 or 2010, but then again, why should it be. It has the kind of bouquet that creeps up on you. The texture of the tannins scream "Burgundy!" on the entry, but there is a seam of graphite threaded through the dark berry fruit that brings you back to Bordeaux. It is not a powerful, extravagant or even a "gourmand" Tertre-Rôteboeuf, but it exudes poise, harmony and that oft-forgotten word...drinkability. Tasted April 2013.

92/94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2013

Deep crimson, red fruited and (relatively) burgundian, hint of earthy mushroom. Sweet fruited, rich and deep, luxuriant, almost exotic by Bordeaux standards. Finely structured but melts in the mouth while retaining energy. Very long indeed. (JH)

17.5
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2013

Deep ruby colour. The nose is incredibly aromatic with blueberry, red and black cherries and dried flowers, with a little smoke from new oak. The palate is sweet, soft, round, and gently smoky. Oodles of ripe red and black fruit give juiciness to a wine that is super smooth, layered and lifted. A really precise and long finish round off a stunning bottle that could be drunk now but will last for years.

98
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, June 2015

Ever the maverick, trust François Mitjaville to make a wine with 15% alcohol in a cool
vintage from his special site on St Emilion's Côte Sud. And yet the wine carries its alcohol
lightly, with texture, fruit and acidity all in harmony. It's almost exotic on the nose and
palate, with hints of Asian spices, fresh coffee, orange peel and sweet figs and red fruits.
Supple and refined with very stylish tannins and a lingering freshness. A great vigneron at
the peak of his powers.
Drink: 2018-30

96
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2013
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.