Roc de Cambes

Bourg lies at the confluence of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. Here the owner François Mitjavile discovered a property where there are resonances of his renowned Saint-Émilion Grand Cru estate Tertre Roteboeuf – though on a larger scale. François’ philosophy involves an instinct and understanding of the rhythms of the vineyard. There is no room for dogma here. Yields are generally low – but that is not the goal, nor is late harvesting, for which it has gained a reputation. He picks when he believes the grapes are ready to be picked and that might be before or after others depending on the vintage. The Côtes de Bourg is a region with great, but often unrealised, potential and François’s very individual way of working soon unleashed a wine which sits easily amongst the greatest wines Bordeaux produces. Roc de Cambes is located in a natural amphitheatre overlooking the Gironde estuary. It is 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, permitting regular growth and wonderfully ripe, concentrated fruit.