This warm vintage saw an extended winemaking period, reflecting the extremely ripe fruits, and took even longer than the 2009 to be fully fermented dry. At this point it is bursting with soft tobacco, crushed roses, white truffles and campfire smoke, with waves of kirsch cherry and clove. Natural yeast fermentation, exuberant with layers of fresh oyster shell salinity, not without faults but that is part of the charm. 100% new oak.

A dramatic flamboyant nose of roasted espresso intermixed with chocolate fudge blackberries Asian spices and kirsch jumps from the glass of this ostentatious effort. Full-bodied and layered with an unctuous texture gorgeous purity and an undeniable hedonistic explosion of fruit and glycerin it can be drunk now or cellared for 15+ years. To my taste it is the finest Le Tertre-Roteboeuf since 1990. But watch out for the 2000!

Aromas of plums, berries and meat, with hints of fresh herbs. Full-bodied, with loads of sweet fruit and round tannins. Long and juicy. Hard not to drink now.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2010. – JS

Perfumed, even a little exotic and a hint of sweet brambly smoke like a waft of weed in the air (not uncommon in my part of London). Still has some fresh red fruit on the palate, immensely silky and complex. Some pepper and sweet decay (in an attractive way). Idiosyncratic Bordeaux but delicious. 17.5/20 (JH)