Domaine de Cambes 2017

Characteristics and tasting tips for Domaine de Cambes 2017

Tasting

Appearance

The color is a deep garnet with purple highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals a complex bouquet dominated by black fruit, with aromas of blackberries, candied plums, and black cherries. Notes of kirsch and raspberries are accompanied by spicy touches of black pepper, complemented by smoky scents, cedar, and camphor. The oak is expressed with intensity in the wine's youth.

Palate

On the palate, the wine stands out for its remarkable balance between delicacy and power. Dense and voluminous, it offers abundant substance supported by robust yet extremely silky tannins. A slight freshness persists, creating a balanced tension between ripeness and vibrancy. The black fruit notes prolong with touches of kirsch cherries, plums, and star anise, enhanced by nuances of black pepper. The finish ends in length and elegance on earthy notes.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs perfectly with roast beef with mushrooms, pigeon with chestnuts, or roast duck breast. It also elegantly accompanies braised red meats and game dishes.

Service and storage

Domaine de Cambes 2017 is best served at 17°C. It is recommended to decant it two hours before serving when young. This wine has a cellaring potential until approximately 2036, or even beyond.

A precise and delicious Bordeaux by Mitjavile

The estate

The Domaine de Cambes belongs to the Mitjavile family, also owners of the prestigious Château Tertre Roteboeuf in Saint-Émilion and Château Roc de Cambes. François Mitjavile, nicknamed the "Pope of Bordeaux winemaking," acquired the property in 1988 and manages it with his wife Émilie. Their daughter Nina ensures the continuity of the family project today. The family stands out for its unwavering philosophy: creating sincere wines, shaped to last but also to move, prioritizing the authentic expression of the terroir rather than conformity to trends.

The vineyard

The Domaine de Cambes vineyard is located on the edge of the Gironde estuary, on the lowlands stretching at the foot of the hillsides of the Côtes de Bourg appellation, in the Bordeaux region. The clay-sandy soils with a dominance of clay retain freshness and allow for a long vegetative cycle. The river plays a crucial regulating role by mitigating temperature extremes. The vines, averaging forty years of age, are managed using sustainable agriculture with permanent grass cover. Harvesting is manual and characteristically late, allowing for extreme ripeness of the grapes.

The vintage

The 2017 vintage in the Bordeaux region was a year of climatic challenges, marked by temperature variations. For Domaine de Cambes, 2017 benefited from an absence of frost in the spring. The ripeness obtained is described as pushed but balanced, maintaining a harmony characteristic of the Mitjavile philosophy. The 2017 stands out particularly for its finesse compared to other vintages from the same producer.

Winemaking and aging

Domaine de Cambes 2017 benefited from a prolonged aging of 18 months in new French oak barrels from the Radoux cooperage. Aging takes place in a tempered, non-air-conditioned cellar, with regular oxygen intake via the barrels and numerous rackings. This methodical approach to oxygenation aims for the evolution of flavors without undue oxidation, allowing the wood to integrate harmoniously during aging.

Grape varieties

Merlot (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Cabernet Franc (10%), Malbec (5%)