FRANÇOIS
NINA
LOUIS
MITJAVILE
TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AUR AGE 2019 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR EXCLUSIVE TO CORNEY & BARROW IN THE UK, HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE
“We had rainstorms as the harvest drew nearer. That was absolutely fabulous!” FRANÇOIS MITJAVILE May 2020
FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
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2019 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR
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INTRODUCTION Maître Mitjavile, we never doubted you. Whilst Covid-19 has thrown this year’s Bordeaux releases into disarray, this estate has never waited for the crowd.
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We usually taste François Mitjavile’s new vintage in Tertre Roteboeuf’s atmospheric cellar in Saint-Laurent-desCombes, just outside the town of Saint-Émilion. This year was a little different: Adam Brett-Smith, Will Hargrove, Joe Muller and I assembled at a deserted C&B HQ and tasted, from socially-distanced corners of the sales floor, the barrel samples which had been shipped to us.
As for Louis ‘Loulou’ Mitjavile’s L’Aurage, we were in violent agreement that 2019 is the best yet. Castillon is one of the historically great enclaves of the right bank and this year that heritage is more evident than ever. L’Aurage, the first proper vintage of which was 2007, seems to have found an added refinement and poise in 2019, which is fitting given that the vines are now embarking on their third decade.
The surroundings could not dampen our excitement for the wines. As François himself remarks in the video recorded from lockdown (link here), Tertre Roteboeuf is “profound”, whilst Roc de Cambes is “spectacular”. These two words seem to capture perfectly their respective characters: Tertre is regally impressive (still waters run deep…) whilst Roc weaves and glides, then unfailingly hits its mark – the underthe-radar Bordeaux par excellence.
These three highly distinctive wines are all grands vins in their own right. The Mitjavile worldview has no place for ‘second wines’: every drop made is its property’s definitive expression of the vintage. The family’s uncompromising approach has become its hallmark and, in these strangest of times, it will without a doubt prove right again. We are extremely lucky to have a close relationship with these fabulous estates – direct access has never been more important and this vintage is not to be missed.
GUY SEDDON May 2020
FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
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2019 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR
THE 2019 VINTAGE, IN THE WORDS OF FRANÇOIS MITJAVILE “Tertre Roteboeuf is possibly the more profound, whilst Roc de Cambes is the more spectacular.” FRANÇOIS MITJAVILE May 2020
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“A vintage of character is always the result of rather strange conditions. Our growing season was dry, with shallow reserves of water in the vineyard. There was a fierce heatwave in the month of July and a summer that was very hot and dry. The vines found themselves under some degree of stress, with small berries, of deep colour and strong flavour, which ripened with some difficulty. And we had rainstorms as the harvest drew nearer. That was absolutely fabulous! The grapes, softened by the humidity at the end of the growing season, began to reveal graceful flavours in the skins and pips, with a tenderness… and fruit that stayed really fresh. We try to understand, but it is frequently hard to give reasons for the eventual character of certain vintages; such is the case with 2019. This year’s wines appear to be full of expression, supple, full of ripe and bright fruit, and in contrast to those from a year of great heat and concentration (think 2016). A very fine vintage, packed with personality and its own particular charm.”
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Franรงois Mitjavile
FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
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2019 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR
THE WINES
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L’AUR AGE Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux
ROC DE CAMBES Bourg-Côtes de Bordeaux
Louis ‘Loulou’ Mitjavile, François Mitjavile’s son, is the winemaker of L’Aurage, which he owns with his wife Caroline. The picturesque 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.
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.
Plantings are 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, all replantings now being Merlot. The oldest vines are 18 years old. Intricate winter and early spring vineyard work is key for these relatively young vines. L’Aurage 2019 was picked in little over 24 hours, on 4th October. The cellar is kept at a minimum 15-16ºC, which Loulou finds promotes roundness and richness. L’Aurage spends 18-20 months in 100% new oak, from the Radoux cooperage.
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.
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TERTRE ROTEBOEUF Saint-Émilion Grand Cru The best vantage point from which to survey Tertre Roteboeuf is the wall at the bottom of François’ garden, pictured opposite, which sits directly above this sweeping six hectare amphitheatre and its clay-limestone soils. The limestone, from which the underground cellars are hewn, is one of the keys to Tertre Roteboeuf. François’ and his winemaker daughter Nina’s trademark late picking finds a counterbalance in the naturally cool soil. This safeguards the wines’ characteristic freshness alongside the so-called “degraded” structure which François seeks. In 2019, it was the September rains which, in his words, “tenderised” the structure of the fruit. The blend reflects the vineyard plantings of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The average vine age is over 40 years.
Watch Videos Click here to watch our recent video with François Mitjavile Click here to watch our recent video with Louis Mitjavile
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FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
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2019 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR
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2019 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. A quiet, measured nose of blackcurrant and stately cedar, rather regal, with a redcurrant and pomegranate lift. The tender, sweet raspberry-fruited palate is infused with violet perfume, the substantial but wonderfully rounded, supple tannins forming a striking overarching structure. A huge density of fruit and extract, but worn lightly, aided by that trademark Mitjavile freshness. Tight and compacted, a wine of sinewy intensity in barrel, which will no doubt blossom. 100% new oak.
Roc de Cambes is also 80% Merlot, the remaining 20% being Cabernet Sauvignon rather than Franc. Explosively pretty on the nose – raspberry, kirsch and Parma violets – this has all of the ‘degraded’ fruit character which François so assiduously seeks and which in 2019 he attributes to the rains in September. The merest hint of coffeed oak spice, which will certainly integrate. The palate is so fresh, the impressive fruit density dancing across the mid-palate, the natural salinity and chalky minerality adding a wonderful lightness of touch. 100% new oak.
Corney & Barrow Score 18+ Recommended drinking from 2027 - 2047
Corney & Barrow Score 18.5 Recommended drinking from 2024 - 2038
£790/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK
£260/case of 6 bottles, in bond UK
£800/case of 3 magnums, in bond UK
£270/case of 3 magnums, in bond UK
£555/case of 1 double magnum in bond UK
£205/case of 1 double magnum in bond UK
£1,130/case of 1 imperial in bond UK
£430/case of 1 imperial in bond UK
L’Aurage
Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux
L’Aurage is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, mirroring the holdings. A glass-staining ruby-purple colour. The nose is wonderfully aromatic – violets and a lick of cedary new oak, with bright lifted red cherry. The palate takes no prisoners, densely packed raspberry coulis and redcurrant on the attack, with firm tannins shaping the palate. A refreshing crunch to the fruit sets off the natural density nicely. Fruit-driven and beautifully poised – a definite touch of the X-factor this year. 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.
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FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
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2019 VINTAGE, EN PRIMEUR
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INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT SINCE 1780
To Order LONDON
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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.
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FRANÇOIS AND LOUIS MITJAVILE TERTRE ROTEBOEUF, ROC DE CAMBES & L’AURAGE
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2019 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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