Wine Advisor
Roc de Cambes 2020
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Broad and concentrated, the 2020 Roc de Cambes unwinds in the glass with aromas of cassis, plums, wood smoke, violets and espresso roast. Medium to full-bodied, rich and velvety, with a fleshy core of fruit and powdery structuring tannins, this is the most muscular wine in Mitjaville's cellar.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Roc de Cambes is a potent, reticent wine that is going to need at least a few years to come into its own. Bright red-toned fruit, crushed flowers, blood orange, mint and dried herbs open first. Vibrant acids and open-knit aromatics lend energy as the 2020 gradually unfurls in the glass, with the Cabernet very much driving the flavor profile and overall feel. This exotic beauty is a total stunner. Give it time, though.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Roc de Cambes opens with a huge bouquet of scorched earth, tar, licorice, gravel and incense. A rich, explosive wine, this is going to need at least a few years to come together, but it is impressive even in the early going. Inky red/purplish berry fruit, spice, leather and floral accents linger on the substantial finish. There is a lot of wine here.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Roc de Cambes was one of the standouts from barrel. Now in bottle, I have to say that the new oak comes across very prominently on the nose, more so than I would personally like compared to the L'Aurage. On the palate, the oak is more assimilated, with fine tannins, touches of cooked meat/dried blood infusing the red fruit. Impressive in terms of weight on the finish. I'm just cautious about that oak on the nose, hence my prudent score.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Roc de Cambes has a glorious , irresistible bouquet of ravishing dark cherries, blueberry, crushed violets and incense aromas; the oak here is very nicely enmeshed. The palate is medium-bodied and finely tuned, displaying supple tannins and a silky texture. There is wonderful harmony and palpable energy toward the finish. This actually challenges Tertre-Rôteboeuf, as if to say, why should you take the gold medal every year? It's that good.
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.
