Château Roc de Cambes 2019
(Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France) - [VM 93] [JD 92-94] [WA 92] [TWI 92]

About the Château:
Château Roc de Cambes is a jewel owned by François Mitjavile, highly renowned for Tertre Roteboeuf Grand Cru in St Emilion.

This is his property in the Côtes de Bourg, a vineyard reminiscent of Tertre Roteboeuf, being as it is, a natural amphitheatre with a perfect aspect overlooking the Gironde River. It comprises fourteen hectares of old vines planted on the most highly reputed slope of the Côtes (les Croutes), where the heat of the sun on the slope is regulated by the effects of the estuary and cool clay/limestone soils. This makes for regular growth and wonderfully ripe, concentrated fruit.

About This Wine:
Often close in quality to the same owner's top Saint Emilion, Le Tertre Roteboeuf. This Côtes de Bourg is head and shoulders the best wine of the appellation and very much a wine for those "in the know". A right bank wine, yet only 4 or 5 kilometres from Chateau Margaux as the crow flies. This vineyard is a south facing slope with well ventilated vines. The Cabernet Sauvignon vines here are over 50 years old.

Ratings & Reviews

93 Points - Vinous Media:
“The 2019 Roc de Cambes has come together beautifully since I tasted it en primeur. The balance of dark red cherry/plum fruit and blood orange is so intriguing. The 2019 bristles with energy, much of it surely attributable to the 20% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. (Drink between 2024-2039)" - Antonio Galloni (Feb 2022)

92-94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2019 Roc De Cambes is deeply color, powerful wine that's based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from the Côtes de Bourg appellation. This fleshy, full-bodied effort has loads of chocolate-covered cherry, blueberry, toasted spice, tobacco, and espresso aromatics, a mouthfilling texture, soft tannins, and a beautiful finish. It's already hard to resist and is a pleasure-bent 2019 that will keep for 15+ years. It's in the same ballpark as the 2018. (Drink between 2020-2036)" (June 2020)

92 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2019 Roc de Cambes has turned out brilliantly, offering up aromas of cassis, sweet berry fruit, cigar wrapper, first floor and rich spices, followed by a full-bodied, layered, elegantly muscular palate that's deep and concentrated, its fleshy core of fruit framed by ripe acids and ripe, powdery tannins. This is a terrific effort that may nip at the heels of the 2016. Despite its modest appellation, don't hesitate to cellar this, as Roc de Cambes is invariably better integrated and more interesting with a decade on the clock than on release." - William Kelley (Apr 2022)

92 Points - The Wine Independent:
"Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Roc de Cambes storms from the glass with pronounced notes of baked black cherries, prunes, and Chinese five spice, plus suggestions of tobacco leaf, tapenade, and tilled soil. The full-bodied palate is concentrated, chock full of savory and earthy layers paved by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note.

“We have wines of a certain opulence in this 2019,” said owner Francois Mitjavile of the vintage. “It is quite like a type of exotic cake. We want to express the full vintage; this is why we don't make second wines. I think these express the vintage well.” - Lisa Perrotti-Brown (5/9/22)