Tertre Roteboeuf

Located on a small plot of land in Saint-Emilion, Tertre Roteboeuf is not to be overlooked by the appellation’s larger estates. In the late 20th century, Tertre quickly rose to become a respected wine on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, as each release is consistently praised for high-quality tastes and aromas and ability to age gracefully over decades. At this estate, you can always guarantee a unique winemaking approach and off-the-wall business decisions, which carved a distinct lane for the small winery.  

Tetrte Roteboeuf History

The estate was founded in 1731 when the first vineyard was built in Saint-Emilion. Because the plot of land was so small, at only 6 hectares, it was overlooked for much of Bordeaux’s winemaking history. It was not until 1961, when then owner Emile Gilard passed away, leaving ownership to his daughter, Miloute. She and her husband, Francois Mitjavile, took it upon themselves to transform Tertre Roteboeuf into one of Saint-Emilion’s most prestigious wineries, tired of seeing the estate underperforming.

The pair had no formal winemaking background, forcing Mitjavile to quit his successful corporate career and begin a two-year apprenticeship at Chateau Figeac. From 1975 to 1977, Mitjavile studied the fine delicacies of Bordeaux winemaking before taking on his first solo vintage in 1978. As the new owner of the estate, he added the name “Roteboeuf” to the latter half of the name, attempting to distinguish Tertre from its nearby competitors. While not a formal French word, “Roteboeuf” was local slang to describe the sound the cattle made climbing the steep hill on which Tertre’s vineyard was located. Furthermore, he removed “Chateau” from the estate’s title to remove any pretention that might be associated with the name.

Nearly a decade after his ascent to ownership, Mitjavile and his wife transformed Tertre Roteboeuf into a Saint-Emilion giant, demanding praise from critics and intense interest from collectors.

Tertre Roteboeuf: Saint-Emilion’s Underrated Gem

Tertre’s vineyard is set on a steep slope on the south side of Saint-Emilion, allowing for slightly cooler weather than the rest of the appellation. Thanks to the large hillsides, the vineyard’s limestone and clay soils receive excellent drainage, working beautifully to create rich wines. The vineyard is planted to 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc vines, each trained close to the ground using thick, double-armed cordons. This peculiar technique is just one of Francois Mitjavile’s obsessions, as the winemaker is also famously particular on harvesting very late into the season, often the last estate to do so in the region. From this, Mitjavile is able to hand pick fully ripe grapes until they are at what he calls “sumptuous degradation.”

Once the fruit is sent to the cellar, they undergo fermentation in temperature controlled concrete vats before aging in new oak barrels for 18-24 months. The barrels are specially made for Tertre by the Radoux cooperage, created with special wood grain and toast. It is common for the estate to produce low yields, as only 2000 cases are produced each year. At Tertre Roteboeuf, there is no second wine and grand reserve, just one simple and elegant merlot and cabernet franc blend that stands atop Bordeaux. 

Greatest Vintages of Tertre Roteboeuf Red Wine

Unlike most Bordeaux estates, Tertre Roteboeuf only produces one label, a mix of mostly merlot with a hint of cabernet franc. These wines are known for being rich and intense, often displaying a dark berry and mineral palate. Because there is only one wine, Tertre is able to allocate the best grapes into the final blend and focus solely on creating one, beautifully finished product – rarely do these wines ever disappoint with scores in the high-90s becoming commonplace for the estate.

The 2005 Tertre Roteboeuf vintage is a standout release, garnering 99 points from Jeb Dunnuck and 98 points from Robert Parker. Both critics agreed on the incredible aging potential, predicting this wine to reach its prime two decades after bottling. Wine Spectator added on praise, stating, “This is a fascinating and cerebral wine that wows you with its beauty.” Even Tertre owner Francois Mitjavile went on record noting the 2005 release was “Our most beautiful vintage since 1990.”

Ultimately, any bottle from Tertre Roteboeuf is perfect for merlot lovers and Bordeaux collectors looking to expand their collection into niche territories. Celebrate one of Bordeaux’s most underrated producers today.