Domaine de Cambes

Domaine de Cambes’ can be somewhat misleading. This wine bears the simple appellation ‘Bordeaux’,  one of the most basic in the region, yet it is produced by the Mitjavil family, whose estate, ‘Terre de Rotebouf’ in Saint-Émilion, sells for a price many times higher than that of this wine. This is not a ‘second wine’, and the family makes this very clear.

History

François Mitjaville acquired ‘Château Roc-de-Cambes’ in the Côtes de Bourg in the late 1980s, a few years after making a name for himself at ‘Terre-Rothbouf’. The purchase included vineyards on the hillside, as well as a plot on lower-lying land by the river. These lower plots lie outside the boundaries of the Côte de Bour, so the wine from them was bottled separately under the name ‘Domaine de Cambes’. Both estates are now managed by his daughter, Nina.

Vineyards

Around six hectares of flat, low-lying land, known locally as ‘palu’, situated at the foot of the Roc-de-Cambes slope, right at the mouth of the Gironde. The soils here contain more clay and less limestone than on the slope above, which allows them to remain cooler and slows down the ripening of the grapes. The river mouth moderates temperature fluctuations.

Grape varieties

Merlot plays the leading role. More recently, its traditional partner has been Cabernet Franc, whilst Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec feature in older vintages, and some recent batches have been made exclusively from Merlot. The blend varies from year to year.

Winemaking

Hand-harvested, deliberately late. Fermentation takes place in concrete tanks, followed by ageing in oak barrels for approximately 18–24 months.

Wines

One red wine produced each year. Aromas of dark cherry and tobacco, with a savoury, slightly salty finish; the wine is softer and more ready to drink than Roc de Cambes.