Château Tertre Roteboeuf 1994

A very successful effort in a difficult vintage, Tertre Roteboeuf’s 1994 shows a dark plum/ruby color with no lightening at the edge. A nose of roasted herbs intermixed with black cherry, plum, fig, and currant also has a hint of chocolate and earth. Medium-bodied, with ripe but noticeable tannin, excellent definition, and fine purity, this is a nice, weighty, rich, surprisingly strong effort from Tertre Roteboeuf. Anticipated maturity: Now-2014. Last tasted, 12/02.

95: Barrel sample (18/20): expansive, very ripe fruit; black berries, complex, sweet, elegant, with a very delicate touch of wood. On the palate it virtually explodes – a fruit package with plenty of flesh on the bone, a gorgeous sweetness and masses of very ripe tannin, endlessly persistent, a dream wine! 97: Dark, deep Bordeaux red. Idiosyncratic, slightly overripe bouquet with jammy fruit behind it, strongly influenced by barrique, noble woods. Juicy palate, red-berry fruit extract with a jammy berry note, very concentrated, with a finish showing light Ruby Port and sandalwood notes, and it even recalls a great Burgundy. Not typical, but very good. (18/20). 07: During a lunch at the estate. A very mature bottle, earthy sweet tones, a fine hint of cedar, chanterelles, and still a fine red-berry sweetness behind. Long, elegant body, still a lovely sweetness, the wine is fully mature yet still a great pleasure. Just before Christmas 2007 on Marguns. It is very mature, somewhat earthy but with a rather nice sweetness. (17/20). 08: Medium-dark garnet, clearly lightening rim. Earthy bouquet, cooking chocolate, comes across as open, plum compote. On the palate, full, soft acidity, port wine notes at the core, a pear-like touch, pleasant finish, now fully mature.

Sweet, fragrant, velvety bouquet with red berries, aceto, caramel, vanilla. Soft, sweet, silky palate with a supple structure. Sweet finish. 17/20 drink - 2015

Dark red colour. Medium intensity. Evolved. Simple, fruity, oxidative-style nose. Sage liqueur. From the first sip, after a rounded attack and some volume, the massive tannin grain and a woody, flavorless zest poke through. Finishes short and simple.