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Tertre Rôteboeuf 1996

Tasting Notes

89
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003

The 1996 Le Tertre-Roteboeuf is less sumptuous out of bottle than it was from cask. Nevertheless, this is an outstanding wine produced in the tell-tale style of this well-placed hillside vineyard. The color is a deep ruby, and the nose offers up hedonistic notes of smoky, creme brulee, roasted coffee, and chocolate-covered cherries. This medium-bodied wine is exhibiting more structure, muscle, and tannin than I remember from cask. In fact, after the sweet aromatics and initial blast of fruit on the attack, the wine seems to close down, revealing moderate tannin in the very good finish. Unlike most vintages of Le Tertre-Roteboeuf, which can be drunk immediately, the 1996 requires 2-3 years of cellaring, and should keep for 15-16 years.

90
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (122), April 1999

Le Tertre-Roteboeuf has fashioned a wine with luxuriously rich fruit with all the elements of sur-maturité- jammy plums, coffee, chocolate, and low acidity. Fat, fleshy, dense flavors coat the palate with an unctuous texture. This is a luscious, rich, silky-textured wine bursting with fruit and personality. I expected this wine to become more structured and delineated with barrel age, but is has become even more decadently hedonistic. Anticipated maturity : Now 2012.

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (115), February 1998
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