Roc de Cambes
Grand Vin
Cotes de Bourg
2016

The producer

Château Roc de Cambes is a remarkable Right Bank estate located in the Côtes de Bourg, overlooking the Gironde estuary. Purchased in the late 1980s by François Mitjavile, the visionary winemaker behind the celebrated Tertre Roteboeuf in Saint-Émilion, the property was quickly transformed into one of Bordeaux’s most distinctive voices. Mitjavile recognized the potential of Roc de Cambes’ steep, south-facing slopes and deep limestone clay soils, conditions that mirror the great terroirs of the Right Bank, and introduced his signature approach of late harvesting, gentle extraction, and long ageing in new oak. The result is a wine of extraordinary depth and sensuality, marrying Merlot’s plush richness with the structure and freshness of Cabernet. Often described as a “hidden gem” or a “Tertre Roteboeuf in Côtes de Bourg,” Roc de Cambes has earned cult status for its opulent texture, aromatic complexity, and ability to age gracefully for decades, standing as proof that true greatness in Bordeaux transcends classification.

The wine

Château Roc de Cambes, Grand Vin, Côtes de Bourg is the flagship wine of François Mitjavile’s hillside estate overlooking the Gironde estuary. Sourced from old Merlot-dominant vines complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the fruit grows on steep, south-facing limestone and clay slopes that produce naturally low yields and exceptional concentration. Vinification follows Mitjavile’s signature philosophy: long, slow fermentations, gentle extraction, and extended maturation in new French oak barrels for about 18–20 months.

The resulting wine is both powerful and sensual, expressing layers of ripe black cherry, plum, cocoa, and exotic spice framed by supple tannins and vibrant acidity. Its texture is unmistakably velvety, showing the depth and aromatic intensity that have made Roc de Cambes a cult favorite among Bordeaux enthusiasts. Rich, complex, and age-worthy, the Grand Vin captures the soul of the Right Bank while offering remarkable value and individuality within the Côtes de Bourg appellation.

We choose our wines based on a range of criteria (see how we choose our wines) of which critic scores is just one. Rather than simply highlight the best score to promote a wine, our average critic score is calculated from the scores provided by several respected wine critics, who we follow for specific regions. They do not represent all critic scores and, wherever possible, we try and give more weight to more recent reviews. Where appropriate we consider market-based scores like Global Wine Score or Wine Searcher Average scores.

As a rule, we look to offer wines that achieve a 92/100 average critic score or better and frankly a lot of very good wines simply don’t make the cut. As a high-end provider we want to reflect that positioning in the quality of wines we offer. Such wines are only a tiny fraction of those generally on offer in the market. We believe that an average score is a more conservative and representative approach, but it is still subjective and only offered as a guide to our customers, who will (and should) do their own research. We will add individual critic scores to our website in the future.