November 7, 2022 - It just keeps on giving pleasure! Wonderful really, and certainly plenty of life left in it.
April 17, 2021 - Jane Anson, the author of Inside Bordeaux expressed her reservations for this chateaux as it had gone too much to the new world: big, too fruit driven and high alcohol. So with this as a reference, it came as a pleasant surprise that this bottle was the opposite of what she feared. Better surprise still though, was the fact that this bottle was better than the vintage would suggest.
Upon opening, yes, it was very Merlot and a bit jammy or fruity. After 2 hours, the fruit disappeared leaving a beautiful savoury wine where the Cabernet Franc played a much more dominant role. Silky texture, tar, excellent length and yet still has some of the fruit characteristics of Merlot (mocha, cherry and black fruits).
We made the mistake of decanting it too early so towards the end, it was fading a little. Drink now and perhaps only decant one hour before consumption.
September 30, 2017 - -- tasted blind over approx. 45 minutes --
Acidic, tangy red-fruited Nose, with a light creamy vanilla note. Medium bodied on the palate. "Classic Bdx.," right here. Drinking beautifully right now. This excellent wine thumbs its nose at the "off" 2002 vintage.
September 28, 2015 - I have hesitated to rate this because I wanted to make sure that I had bought as much as I want at the silly undervalued price that it sells at currently, and I now think that I have! SO..... Buy it people! This is lovely Tertre Roteboeuf at a price that makes sense. Francois Mitjavile makes fabulous wine in 'off' vintages, and if you want to experience why it is that Bordeaux is a class act, buy this and - above all - enjoy. Hedonistic wine by any criteria.
January 15, 2014 - Wine & Dine : Some Cali Cabs (@ Nicolas): Ripe fruit nose (C. mentioned shiraz similarities). We knew there might have been one Cab not from California, but I felt this was very new world, quite jammy, with soft tannins, lacking acidity.
It was a surprise to see it as a St Emilion. I can see the interest in the wine but it was so different and opposite of the 85 Napa Cab before, that it did not work much for me.
November 17, 2013 - Decanted for one hour. Dense, purple-red to the eye. Pleasant albeit subdued nose with tobacco, some leather and dark fruit. On the palate dark massive primary fruit with tannins that have started to soften. Long aftertaste. The nose and the palate changed very little during 2-3 hours of airing.
All in all, a promising future for a wine that in my view hasn't showed all its cards yet. Decant for a long time or wait 2-5 years more.