Wine Advisor
Roc de Cambes 2019
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
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.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
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.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Freshly cut flowers, raspberry, mint, anise and cedar give the 2019 Roc de Cambes striking brightness and energy to play off its radiant, sumptuous fruit. A wine of energy and vibrancy, the 2019 marries richness with persistence. The finish is perhaps just a touch nervous. Let’s see what élevage brings.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2019 Roc de Cambes has an opulent bouquet with blueberry and black cherry scents, floral with a fair slathering of new oak. The palate is medium-bodied, quite toasty in style, with a lot of vanillary new oak, as the nose suggests, which occludes terroir expression on the finish. The bottle last year was far superior, so I will not score based on this example. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2019 Roc de Cambes has retained an attractive Japanese nori scent that combines beautifully with the layered black fruit. The palate is very well balanced, poised and spicy, and fresh as a daisy, with fine concentration and a gourmand-like finish that lingers in the mouth. This is a fantastic Roc de Cambes.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2019 Roc de Cambes is focused and intense on the nose with Japanese nori tinged black fruit, damp loamy soil and later, hints of violet and incense. The palate is very well balanced with supple tannins, supremely well judged acidity and an irresistible creamy texture that maintains tension on the finish. This is a sophisticated and very satisfying Roc de Cambes in the making.
About the Producer
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. Essentially François Mitjavile’s approach was to coax optimal quality in a region with great, but often unrealised, potential. He made Roc de Cambes flourish. With his son Louis (now owner of L’Aurage) and his daughter Nina (increasingly at the helm) his experience and philosophy from St Emilion come into play here. Together they control vigour and pick only when the grapes are super-ripe. They have succeeded in creating a wine which has led to many an embarrassing moment at blind tastings when compared to received “great” wines, first growths included. Roc de Cambes has a wow factor in spades.
1989(1)1990(1)1998(2)2000(1)2001(2)2005(1)2006(3)2008(1)2009(4)2010(3)2011(3)2012(1)2013(6)2014(3)2015(2)2016(3)2017(5)
Package Size
1 x 6L1 x 75cl3 x 1.5L
