2009 Château du Tertre
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Gentle supple tannins, very much in its drinking window. I have had a better example at the château recently but here it majors on tobacco leaf, brambled blackberry and fig fruits, gentle cumin and rosemary spice. Balanced, fine tannins, tertiary aromatics. Owned in 2009 by Albada Jelgersma family, Alexander van Beek director, 50% new oak for ageing.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
This is at a great moment to drink, with plenty of sweet black cherry and damson fruit that reflects the warmth of the vintage, softened at this point with edges of strawberry, tobacco, white pepper and gunsmoke. Owned by the Helfrich family (Grands Chais de France) since 2021, but at this point in 2009 it was the Albada Jelgersma family, overseen by Alexander van Beek. Located predominantly on terraces 3 and 5, set a little further back from the river from most of the classified Margaux châteaux.
The 2009 du Tertre has a very ripe, rather smudged and over the top bouquet. This feels a little one-dimensional at the moment. The palate is much better with pure black cedar-infused fruit, a touch of pencil lead and gentle grip towards the precise finish. I suspect the aromatics are going through a sullen phase, it will come through on the other side, so give this another couple of years in bottle. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' Ten Year On tasting.
About the producer
Until recently owned by the Albada Jelgersma family (along with Giscours), Ch. du Tertre is one of the oldest estates in the region – with a history stretching back 1,000 years. Classified as a Fifth Growth, its 54 hectares of vines sit on high gravel outcrops in Margaux.