Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf   Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf

2004 Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf

By Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf

2004 Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf from Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux

The remarkable 2004 vintage of Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf plainly demonstrates the winemaker’s astuteness under the challenging conditions presented by an erratic Bordeaux year. Trotting alongside the celebrated vintages that earned accolades for their opulence and charisma, this offering from Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf stands firmly on its pedigree of balance and intricate subtlety. In the canon of Saint-Emilion terroirs, few articulate the language of their locale as evocatively as this distinguished estate.

 

Climatic Grace Under Vintage Pressure

In a year that oscillated between extremes, with early drought followed swiftly by cool August evenings, the 2004 vintage demanded acumen from Bordeaux vignerons. The resultant yield from Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf reflects a triumph over adversity – a wine with a poised array of red and blackberry fruits that pirouette elegantly around a core of finely stitched tannins. A subplot of earthy, truffle undertones unfurls effortlessly into a finish that is both generous in length and refreshingly vivacious.

 

Nuance and Investment Merit

Seventeen years in repose have graced the 2004 Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf with an enigmatic complexity reminiscent of a seasoned thespian pacing the boards with undiminished vitality. For investors seeking wines with maturity, yet capable of further evolution, this vintage pledges performance. Its integration of aromatics and well-calibrated structure exemplifies the meticulous crafting akin to fine tapestry work.

This wine’s narrative speaks volumes not just on the potential splendour of unpredictable Bordeaux years but also on the merit and foresight underlying sound wine investment choices. A manuscript of terroir that has been respectfully penned - in this case by Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf - ensures a legacy that endures beyond initial expectations.

Thusly, for connoisseurs questing for vinous history interwoven with future promise – the rich tapestries woven by the 2004 Chateau Le Tertre Roteboeuf propose a veritable tableau worth contemplation amidst the reveries of sophisticated palates. This Bordeaux from the esteemed Saint-Emilion estate is indeed a find for those vested in vinicultural excellence.

Market price (SGD)

$2,200.00

12x75cl

Highest score

89

POP score

146.67

Scores and tasting notes

89

The bottled 2004 Tertre Roteboeuf is a very good effort for the vintage, revealing a Chateauneuf du Pape-like kirsch liqueur note intermixed with hints of beef blood, sweet herbs, and licorice. It will not make anyone forget the monumental 2000 or top-notch 1998, but it is a well-made effort displaying a medium-bodied, lush finish with noticeable tannin. It appears to be at an incongruous stage of development, showing both sweetness and hardness, somewhat like the classic Chinese play of sweet versus sour. It reminds me of a lighter version of Terte Roteboeuf’s successful 1994. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2007

Vintage performance