Tertre Rôteboeuf 1994

A very successful effort in a difficult vintage, Le Tertre Roteboeuf's 1994 shows a dark plum/ruby color with no lightening at the edge. A nose of roasted herbs intermixed with black cherry, plum, fig, and currant also has a hint of chocolate and earth. Medium bodied, with ripe but noticeable tannin, excellent definition, and fine purity, this is a nice, weighty, rich, surprisingly strong effort from Le Tertre Roteboeuf. Anticipated maturity: now-2014. Last tasted, 12/02.

The wine was increasingly stunning and supple each time I went back to it as it evolved in cask, but it appears to have closed down. The wine exhibits a dark saturated ruby/purple color, a tight, earthy nose that reluctantly gives up jammy black-raspberry and cherry notes intermingled with grilled meats and smoky scents. Medium to full-bodied, with more tannin in evidence than prior to bottling, this is a fat, dense, expansively-flavored wine with outstanding purity, ripeness, and depth. Anticipated maturity: 1999-2012.