Francois Mitjavile's 2024 Châteaux Le Tertre Rôteboeuf is released for sale en primeur, with excellent reviews from Vinous. Le Tertre Rôteboeuf is offered at £770 per six.
Francois and his children Nina and Henri unfailingly make remarkable wines even in the most challenging vintages. To illustrate the point, a couple of years ago when visiting Tertre Rôteboeuf, we were offered the 1992 to taste. A notoriously difficult year in Bordeaux, we didn't hold out much hope, but this '92 was exceptional, even thirty years on!
Francois, his daughter Nina and son Henri (who now look after winemaking) appear to have done it again in 2024. Galloni describes it as a 'fine edition' of this wine, scoring it 94-96 points, placing higher than his barrel score for the '23. Similarly, Roc de Cambes scores 91-93 points, a point higher than the '23 and equalling his barrel score for the '22.
Scores aside, we think these are among are the most unique and beguiling wines in the whole of Bordeaux and they easily justify their offer prices, so do consider adding them to your cellar.
Offered en primeur, landing spring 2027.
Producer Profile
Château Le Tertre Rôteboeuf
Visiting Le Tertre Rôteboeuf is like being transported to an ancient, mould-lined cellar in the Côte de Nuits. The estate has been in the Mitjavile family since the '60s but it was Francois who made its name, learning his trade at Figeac in the early '70s. His first vintage was in 1978 and by the '89 vintage the reputation of this 6 hectare estate was established alongside the best in St-Émilion.
Farmed organically, Le Tertre Rôteboeuf is geographically close to Troplong Mondot and Pavie, but a world away in style. The etymology of the name derives from the days when the land was used for cattle grazing, and broadly translates as 'the hill of the belching beef'.
The cool soils here slow the ripening process and this is routinely one of the last estates to finish harvest. Training the Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines close to the ground (see picture above) maximises the warmth radiated from the soil at the end of the ripening season. This contributes to the silky, glycerin texture on the palate and aromatic complexity, particularly from the Cabernet Franc.
| RED | 2024 | Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf | 75cl | £770 per case of 6 | Château Le Tertre Roteboeuf 2024 / / 75cl £770 per case of 6 |
IB | |||||
Tasting Notes"The 2024 Le Tertre Roteboeuf offers up aromas of ripe berries mingled with notions of cigar wrapper, espresso roast, orange zest, smoked meats and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, it's unusually rich and broad for the vintage, framed by oak tannins that assert themselves on the somewhat carnal finish. 89-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Deep ruby red, this has profound ink, damson and liqourice notes on the aromatics and opening, good grip and tension, only slowly opening to show its gourmet side, with cassis and raspberry pureee. Smoked sandalwood, incense and cherry pit add further layers, but this needs time to build. Harvesting first five days of October. 93 points" janeanson.com------"Tasted from multiple barrels, the 2024 Tertre Roteboeuf will easily be an outstanding wine, and it brings more richness and breadth than most. Ripe darker berries, framboise, and spicy wood notes all show on the nose, and it's a classic Mitjavile wine with its richer, layered, balanced, and fleshy style on the palate. As with all 2024s, it's not going to make you forget the recent slew of great vintages, but it's a solid success in the vintage that will offer ample pleasure with the clear signature of the château. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2024 Tertre Rôteboeuf is a classic wine from Francois Mitjaville. Texturally, Tertre-Rôteboeuf is unlike any wine in Bordeaux, especially in its mid-palate creaminess. Sweet floral and spice notes meld into macerated cherry, kirsch, blood orange, menthol and sweet French oak. In 2024, Tertre-Rôteboeuf is perhaps a touch Iighter than other years, but it largely makes up for that with its persistence and a saline-infused finish laced with high-toned red fruit notes. As always, Tertre-Roteboeuf is the last site Mitjaville picks. All of this fruit was brought in during the first days of October. Tertre Rôteboeuf remains one of the most idiosyncratic wines in Bordeaux. The 2024 is a fine edition. 2034-2054. 94-96 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous |
|||||||||||
YOU MUST BE 18 AND OVER TO PURCHASE AND CONSUME WINE AND ALCOHOL