TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AUR AGE THE MITJAVILE FAMILY, 2018 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR EXCLUSIVE TO CORNEY & BARROW IN THE UK, HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE
“A very exciting vintage, with a poetic and a sensual richness. Sunnier, hotter and drier than usual – that makes a certain type of fruit, with an extreme profoundness.” FRANÇOIS MITJAVILE March 2019
FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
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2018 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR
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INTRODUCTION It has become a cliché to say that Tertre Roteboeuf is the ‘most Burgundian’ of SaintÉmilions, so I will leave it to others to say that.
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Without a doubt though, tasting in the cellars at Tertre Roteboeuf is south-west France’s most authentically Burgundian experience. Squinting in a dimly-lit cellar? Propping a laptop between two barrels? Spitting into the drain? It’s all here – as far from the cashmere and loafers image of Bordeaux as you can get. And we love it for that. What of the wines though? Tertre Roteboeuf, Roc de Cambes and L’Aurage each have their unique personalities, as you would expect from their three varied terroirs, in SaintÉmilion, Bourg and Castillon respectively. However, there is
a familiar resemblance at work here, a Mitjavile DNA if you like. This is a world of late picking, in which fruit and tannin maturity is everything and in which the pervasive freshness of the wines seems to defy their ultra-ripeness and 100% new oak. A bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but it can and it does, rather beautifully. The secret is in how you move your wings. Do watch our video of Adam’s interview with François Mitjavile, filmed in April in the garden at Tertre Roteboeuf. And if the audio suffers a little from the wind, just remember how good it is for the health of the vines!
GUY SEDDON May 2019
FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
The 2018 Vintage, in the words of François Mitjavile This was a year when many records were broken. The spring proved to be extremely wet and the soil, saturated with water, was thereby well fortified to protect the vines and allow them to survive the heat of the summer without undue stress. The summer itself got progressively drier, hotter and sunnier. The actual grapes, moreover, were small, resulting in wine with great density. But, wait a bit…the ripening was quite late, delayed by the summer drought, and the harvest took place in October, with a maturation that was at least in some degree an autumnal one, offering a radiance, a charm and an aromatic vitality. Vivaldi! We have then a wine that is dense, full of flavour, and…. graceful!
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...and in the words of Loulou Mitjavile In a few words, it was a vintage of all the extremes! A very wet spring, a very hot summer, very dry and very sunny. A beautiful autumn to reach maturity. A shimmering wine, with aromas of red and black fruits and spicy notes, opulent and radiant in the mouth.
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2018 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR
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Franรงois Mitjavile, April 2019
FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
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2018 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR
THE THREE ESTATES “Along with 1989, one of the densest vintages I have ever seen, with a spicy hint in particular.” FRANÇOIS MITJAVILE, MARCH 2019
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TERTRE ROTEBOEUF Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
L’AUR AGE Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux
The best vantage point from which to survey Tertre Roteboeuf is the wall at the bottom of François’ garden, which sits directly above this hallowed plot. One of Saint-Émilion’s greatest vineyards, Tertre Roteboeuf is a sweeping six hectare amphitheatre of vines planted on cool, clay-limestone soils. The limestone, from which the underground cellars are hewn, is one of the keys to Tertre Roteboeuf.
Louis Mitjavile, known as Loulou, is François Mitjavile’s son. He is the winemaker of L’Aurage, which he owns with his wife Caroline. The vineyards of Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux lie on an outcrop of the Saint-Émilion limestone ridge and represent some of the best value in Bordeaux. This is a beautiful enclave of wooded hillsides.
François’ and his winemaker daughter Nina’s trademark late picking finds a counterbalance in the naturally cool soil. This safeguards the wines’ characteristic upbeat freshness alongside the so-called ‘degraded’ structure which François seeks. Only one wine is made at the property; the blend reflects the vineyard plantings of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The average vine age is over 40 years.
The plantings are 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, although the percentage of Cabernet Franc is diminishing, as all Louis’ replantings are now Merlot. The oldest vines are 17 years old. Loulou places great importance on “couturelike” winter and early-spring vineyard work. Loulou recently installed new temperature regulation in the cellars, which maintains a minimum 15-16ºC. He has found that this enables him to achieve roundness and richness more easily in his wines. L’Aurage spends 18-20 months in oak, which is 100% new, from the Radoux cooperage.
ROC DE CAMBES Bourg-Côtes de Bordeaux Roc de Cambes, in the Bourg-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, lies some 45 minutes to the north-west of Saint-Émilion, on the banks of the Dordogne. It is over twice the size of its ‘big brother’ Tertre Roteboeuf, comprising 14 hectares of old vines, with an average age of over 40 years. Here too, the vines are planted in a natural amphitheatre, overlooking the Gironde estuary. Roc de Cambes lies on the ‘Les Croutes’ slope, where the heat of the sun is tempered by the adjacent river. Cool clay-limestone soils take time to warm up in the spring so that late ripening is the norm. As at Tertre Roteboeuf, François makes just one wine here. The plantings are 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Watch Video Click here to watch our recent video with François Mitjavile
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Vineyard at Roc de Cambes
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2018 TASTING NOTES Tertre Roteboeuf
Roc de Cambes
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Bourg-Côtes De Bordeaux
This is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, reflecting the vineyard plantings. An alluring, delicately aromatic nose of violets, peonies and rose petals. The palate is supple and inviting, with plush blackberry and blueberry fruit… until the powerful tannins assert themselves, at which point you sit up and pay attention, realising you are in the presence of something special. An explosive yet shapely wine, with insistent drive. There are no harsh edges here: “a monster, but a beautiful one”, in Adam Brett-Smith’s words. 100% new oak.
Similar to Tertre Roteboeuf, this has 80% Merlot, but the remaining 20% is Cabernet Sauvignon rather than Franc. The nose has dark cherry fruit, kirsch and a playful strawberried lift. The palate has a crisply acidic core, lending a freshness and clipped momentum. The supple tannins are coated with dense, sweet raspberry fruit, with fresh mint and cedary spice adding complexity. This speaks softly but carries a big stick – beguilingly accessible, yet with a bass rumble of power. 100% new oak, which is all but imperceptible. Sadly, over half the crop was lost to hailstorms which struck Bourg in May and July.
Corney & Barrow Score 18.5 Recommended drinking from 2026 - 2046 £790/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK £800/case of 3 magnums, in bond UK £555/case of 1 double magnum in bond UK £1,130/case of 1 imperial in bond UK
Corney & Barrow Score 18 Recommended drinking from 2023 - 2038 £260/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK £270/case of 3 magnums, in bond UK £205/case of 1 double magnum in bond UK
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L’Aurage
Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux
L’Aurage is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, mirroring the vineyard plantings. A dark, smoky nose with liquorice and kirsch, then weighty bitter cherry, blackcurrant and forest fruits on the palate. The tannins are sturdy and rather decadently fruit-coated, with a sweet silkiness of texture that makes this dangerously easy to drink. Spicy and potent, a compelling wine. Fresh acidity balances harmoniously, giving a sense of poise to the long finish. 100% new oak. Corney & Barrow Score 17.5+ Recommended drinking from 2022 - 2032 £285/case of 12 bottles, in bond UK £305/case of 6 magnums, in bond UK
Tasting Guide Our tasting notes provide full details but, at your request, we have also introduced a clear and simple marking system. We hope these guidelines assist you in your selection. For the benefit of simplicity, wines are scored out of 20. We will often use a range of scores (e.g. 16.5 to 17) to indicate the potential to achieve a higher mark. When a ‘+’ is shown it adds further to that potential. Wines from lesser vintages will, inevitably, show a lower overall score. Wines are judged, in a very broad sense, against their peers. Why? Well, you cannot easily compare a Ford with an Aston Martin, other than they are both cars and have wheels. It is not that different with wine. A score is a summary only. The devil is in the detail, so please focus on the tasting notes and, as always, speak to our sales team.
FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
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2018 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR
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INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT SINCE 1780
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sales@corneyandbarrow.com PLEASE NOTE These wines are released en primeur. Delivery dates to be confirmed. All prices are quoted in bond UK.
FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
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2018 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR
CONTACT US We have offices and sales outlets in England, Scotland, Hong Kong and Singapore. Please see below for details Our Locations
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