Château Tertre Roteboeuf 2009

Tasted blind. A very slight suggestion of oxidation. Thick and bloody – is this the Tertre R? Big and bold and devil-may-care. Tastes distinctive and dense. A statement rather than a paradigm. (JR)

It is hard to believe that it’s been 7 years since I last tasted this idiosyncratic beauty. The ripe, juicy, flamboyant raspberries and cherries are really starting to pop. From there you find a complex array of truffle, forest floor, licorice, espresso, and jam notes that keep you coming back for more. On the palate, the crushed rock, smoke, thyme, and mélange of red fruits really hit the spot! This is just starting to enter its prime drinking window. You can enjoy it now, or wait another 3–5 years. Either way, this is a winner!

Because hail drastically decimated the Merlot, the 2009 has an exceptionally high share of Cabernet Franc, close to 30%. Since Mitjaville does not produce a second wine, there are only about 14,000 bottles of the Grand Vin here, which is, alongside 1991, one of the smallest harvests ever. Extremely dark purple with violet and black highlights. Freshly roasted coffee, candied mocha beans, prunes, licorice, cold tea, smoky notes, and dried vanilla pods. Full-bodied palate, gorgeous malt and herbal notes from very ripe grapes, creamy texture, a finish of walnut liqueur, ratafia notes, warm and long-lasting. A legendary Tertre-Rôteboeuf with not much less than 15.7% vol. natural alcohol.

Exceptionally, almost 30% Cabernet Franc in the Merlot, because hail left only half a harvest and thus altered the proportions. Mitjaville never makes a second wine. Therefore only about 14,000 bottles. One of the smallest harvests apart from 1991. That’s how this came about. Extremely dark purple with violet and black highlights. Freshly roasted coffee, candied mocha beans, prunes, licorice, cold tea, smoky notes and dried vanilla pods. Full palate, beautiful malt and herbal notes from very ripe grapes, creamy texture, finish of walnut liqueur, ratafia notes, warm and long‑lasting. A legendary Tertre-Rôteboeuf.

Concentrated, sweet, creamy bouquet with dried fruits, currants, dark chocolate, black cherries, mocha, mint candy. Dense, velvety, opulent palate with a tightly woven, creamy structure, soft tannins, and concentrated, sweet aromas of chocolate and raspberry jam. Very long, lavish finish with very powerful aromatics. Can reach the top score with maturity. 19/20 2014 - 2030

Deep ruby-plum in colour, with aromatics that swirl expressively: sweet damson, baked spices, smoked caramel, melted tannins. Just so good, it leaps from the glass. A touch of bitterness on the finish that rounds out and balances the exuberance of the red and black fruits. Waves of orange zest, gourmet black truffle, mocha and a fringe of rose petal. A fascinating vintage here, where fermentation continued through winter, finishing only in March, a testament to the steady nerves of owner François Mitjavile. 100% new oak. Even better than when I last tasted it two years ago.

Opulent yet elegant, with subtly truffled nuances and a satiny texture, this wine is among the pinnacles of the vintage in the area, finishing both fresh and sensuous with great class.