Château Tertre Roteboeuf 1999

A hedonistic, head-turning crowd-pleaser, this dark ruby-colored, flamboyant 1999 boasts a knock-out perfume of scorched earth, smoked herbs, jammy black cherry fruit, chocolate, and roasted coffee. The wine is plump and fleshy, with low acidity, excellent purity, outstanding concentration, and no hard edges. This is a seamless, gorgeous Le Tertre-Roteboeuf to drink over the next 12-15 years.

Sweet, vibrant and distinctive on the nose. Much more integrated and better balanced than the other St-Emilions. Lovely richness – a really fine, energetic bottle. (JR)

Fully mature, the wine screams with ripe and overripe black raspberries, earth, stone, spice, plum, and licorice. Silky, soft, and smooth, this is drinking at its peak today.

Deep wine-red with violet and purple highlights. Expansive, perfectly even, warm bouquet shaped by ripe Merlot, plenty of plum, a hint of mint, dark pralines. On the palate, soft and velvety, with beautiful sweetness in the gently malty extract tasting of Malaga raisins and blackberries, soft, integrated acidity, and dark caramel in a long, lingering finish. A La Mouline from Saint-Emilion.

00: Deep wine-red with violet and purple highlights. Expansive, perfectly even, warm bouquet shaped by ripe Merlot, with plenty of plum, a hint of mint, and dark pralines. On the palate, soft, velvety, with beautiful sweetness in the gently malty extract tasting of Málaga raisins and blackberry, soft, integrated acidity, and dark caramel in the long, lingering finish. A La Mouline from St. Emilion! (17/20). 11: It would have been nicely mature. Why “would have”? Maybe I’d simply had enough wine already during this long midday in Engelberg. Or my certain antipathy to this wine (this has nothing to do with the likeable owner and friend François Mitjaville) came through again. This in many ways incomparable Saint-Emilion started fresh, with a lovely touch of violets and damson plums, but this delicate scent quickly mingled with lovage notes, and in the background an airy tone emerged, reminiscent of a bottle of Ruby Port that had been open for ages. Thus it seemed somehow delicate and alcoholic at the same time. With the first sip I was still at a solid 18/20. Then at most 17/20. Trend probably downward.

A very delicate bouquet of undergrowth and flowers that transcends the vintage’s shortcomings, paired with a freshness and energy that many no longer possess.