Tertre Roteboeuf St. Emilion Goes Their Own Way in Bordeaux

Tertre Roteboeuf is a unique style of Bordeaux wine from St. Emilion. In part because the fruit is picked late, the wine offers a crushed raspberry and mineral perfume, along with black cherry, licorice and elements of kirsch. The wine is rich, racy and plush. However, their style of wine is not the only thing that sets them apart from other wineries. They are perhaps the most famous Bordeaux chateau that does not sell their wine through negociants on the Place. They set their own prices and sell to who they chose to sell their wine too. The high quality of wine produced at the property, coupled with their small producion allows them to march to the beat of their own drum.
Tertre Roteboeuf has been a family affair for a few generations at this point. It started when Le Tertre was owned by François Mitjavile’s future father-in-law. In 1961, after he passed away, it was next inherited by his daughter Miloute. She agreed on a business arrangement with her cousins. Her relatives were familiar with the world of Bordeaux wine making. At the time, they already owned from Chateau Bellefond-Belcier, where the wine was produced.

Wanting to learn about Bordeaux wine making, François Mitjavile took a position at Chateau Figeac in 1975. Two short years later, he returned to Le Tertre. At that time he decided to change the estaes name by adding the word Rôtebeouf. His plan was to make the name of the chateau stand out. The name Tertre Roteboeuf loosely translated means “hill of the belching beef.”

The vineyards are located in the southeastern sector of St. Emilion. They are not far from Chateau Troplong Mondot and Chateau Larcis Ducasse. The limestone based vineyards of Tertre Roteboeuf are planted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. On average, the vines are 40 years of age. Mitjavile strives to pick late and seeks low yields. The wine is always aged in 100% new oak for 18 to 24 months.