Last week in Bordeaux, we tasted some older vintages from Château Roc de Cambes alongside their 2025, and were reminded of how the Mitjavile's wines follow their own rules when it comes to vintage expression and ageing ability.  We have managed to secure a parcel of these older wines to offer to you, namely:  2017 and 2013 Roc de Cambes, and 2018 Domaine de Cambes.  

This is Bordeaux at its most Burgundian, particularly after (plus or minus) a decade in bottle.  There's an old anecdote about the wine merchant and writer Harry Waugh (son of Evelyn), used so often it became a cliché...but tasting these Roc de Cambes wines, it occurred to us that we haven't rolled it out for a while.  Allegedly, when asked with reference to his blind tasting skills, "When did you last mistake claret for burgundy", Waugh replied, quick as a flash, "Not since lunch!"   

Like all good stories, it has a kernel of truth.  Modern Bordeaux reds are hard to mistake for burgundy when young, but with age, it becomes much trickier, particularly so with vintages from past decades.  Tannins soften, and tertiary aromas (leaf mould, mushroom et al) take over from those strictly determined by the grape varieties.  The wines at Roc de Cambes blurr the lines between the two regions from quite early on, with more emphasis on expressing the terroir and the vintage than on expressing the primary characteristics of the grape varieties.  There is also something 'microbiological' about them.  In layman's terms, they have an earthy realness, suggesting a very different approach to the sometimes overly clinical style of other top wines from the region.

Jeb Dunnuck describes 2018 Domaine de Cambes as "a rock star of a wine that blew me away....94 points", a bargain at £195 per six in bond. The Neal Martin describes 2017 Roc de Cambes as "positively stellar", scoring it 94 points.  Spring frosts and a cool, dry summer led to a late harvest, especially for Merlot.  Judging the right moment to pick is one of François' superpowers, and the 2017 has lots of ripe, developed aromas and flavours.  For £270 per six in bond, the structure and complexity of this vintage is superb and would throw shade on many great names from St-Emilion at three or four times the price.  2013 was a wet year in Bordeaux, but Richard Hemming MW for Jancisrobinson.com described 2013 Roc de Cambes as having a "gorgeous perfume", scoring it an impressive 17.5 points, also great value at £270 per six in bond.  

We have limited quantities of all wines, so please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to order.

Offered in bond, available for delivery in June.