February 5, 2024 - took 6 hours after double decanting to open up. didnt stand up to the complexity of petrus or Le Pin next to it, but hasd a similar balance and mouthfeel to the le pin. darker in fruit, a bit more rustic
January 13, 2024 - Similar to the last bottle, but a little less detailed and articulate. Nevertheless, an attention-grabbing dynamo of a wine, full of dark fruit, espresso, bitter chocolate. Yet for its heft, there's a freshness here and it doesn't get bogged down by its weight.
December 7, 2023 - Not an ideal bottle. Stern, celery seed, iron, notes of oxidation. This was a struggle for about 90 minutes, but it gained weight, power and purity with air. Unclear if this was a poor bottle (cork was excellent) or just a very reticent wine.
August 3, 2023 - Gorgeous.
Needed time to fully unfurl to show what it really was. Recommend to decant WAY longer than others what other CT people indicate.
I opened this at 3pm. Was pretty closed and monolithic. Decanted at 5 and put back in the bottle at 6. Went to the Brix in Napa and decanted again. Drank some bubbles and got to this around 8pm. IE 3 hr decant plus plus. Was singing big time by then!! Tasted along the way and it kept getting better and better.
By 9pm this beauty melted in your mouth. All that merlot was dancing delicately on the tongue w a finish that went on and on and on. Wasn't there the first hour, after 3 hrs was magnificent.
What a wine. Amazing balance. Massive yet delicate. Harmonious all around. Leather, tobacco, kirsch, quince, all rolled up delivering pure joy.
AT PEAK PEAK. Drink now. I think this will not get any better and if anything will start to decline over the next few years.
March 11, 2023 - Great example of mature right bank Bordeaux. Ripe and silky, with nicely integrated tannins and silky fruit. Really elegant and pretty wine.
February 5, 2023 - I am curious reading recent rave reviews, and I am now starting to suspect that I have been unlucky with my case as it ages. I loved this wine a few years ago, and indeed, I still think it is a a great example of a mature Bordeaux, but I do stand by my last couple of notes. The nose and palate are rich with ripe blackcurrant and blackberry with chocolate and tobacco, but I'm finding the tannin now dominating end palate and the finish, and to be honest a little unpleasant. I mentioned last time that with higher alcohol wines, (this is 14%,) I have read that with time sometimes the tannin becomes unstable, and I can only deduce that this has happened with my case, as it is certainly not tainted. However, in spite of the issue, the sum of the total parts delivers a great experience.
January 15, 2023 - This was just a textbook example of top quality right bank Bordeaux from an incredible vintage, firing on all cylinders. This elixir explodes from the glass with waves of macerated blackberry, confiture de cassis, pipe tobacco, cedar box, espresso, dark chocolate, graphite, limestone, and hickory. Full bodied and totally integrated on the palate with ample balancing acidity and a finish that lasts well past a minute. Absolutely stunning example and among my top Bordeaux tasted of all time. So happy to have shared it with great friends.
January 11, 2023 - PNP. Cork in great condition and colour medium red with a slight amber rim. Expressive and promising nose, hint of animal notes, some spice after a while. On palate, initially light body with red fruits but as time passed, it developed impressive weight and complexity. Layers of flavours culminating in a chocolaty finish. Utterly seductive and beguiling, no rough edges. My wife and i finished the bottle within 90 min …. Fortunately 11 more bottles to go!!
August 5, 2022 - I have always found Tertre Roteboeuf a bit of a mystery and difficult to assess - I thought this slightly cooked on first opening but then it seemed to close up completely over the next hour or so and was not very giving even over a couple of days
July 18, 2022 - I purchased a case of this as futures following the Wine Advocate's recommendation back in the day and have cellared it since. Decided to re-acquaint myself with it since I will be visiting the chateau in September. Top shoulder level, with a soaked cork that was removed in several fragments. Medium sediment upon decanting, with a garnet/brick color and immediate aromas of dark fruits, raisins, alcohol and menthol. No trace of TCA or brett. After 30 minutes in the glass, the alcohol blew off and whiffs of leather and cedar could be noted, with dried rose petal developing subsequently. On the palate, the wine is medium/heavy body, luscious, with integrated tannins, low acidity and a 30 second finish. You can taste the sun and the ripe fruit in this wine. Now completely in balance, there is a combination of dried figs, raisins, and five spice powder that contribute to its unique, exotic taste.
The wine is fully mature and should be drunk within the next 3-5 years. A 1-1.5hr decant seems appropriate at this point. It is a delicious and individual expression of Bordeaux.