Château Rouget 2020

Heady and concentrated, a deep dark core of blackcurrant and black cherry fruits. Vibrant acidity keeps things lifted and although the muscular tannins coat the mouth giving a soft grip there is nice energy here with a sleek handle on the cool blue fruits, acidity and gorgeous florality. Feels complete, not charming so much right now, but certainly evocative as it's quite forward and confident with strong tobacco, liquorice and clove spice giving the oak on the finish. One to wait for.

Lots of black olive with dark fruit and sandalwood on the nose. Full-bodied, with layers of velvety, soft tannins that remain vibrant and focused. Very integrated palate. Flavorful on the finish. Drink after 2026.

The 2020 Rouget is a potent, opulent Pomerol. Espresso, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, leather, incense, tobacco and blackberry jam race across the palate. This sumptuous, unabashedly opulent Pomerol has a ton to offer, but it is very much on the large side.

Soft, lush, ripe, sweet, black and red plums infused with chocolate, truffles, and licorice on the back end on the nose and on the palate create the core of this wine. The finish offers freshness with waves of plush black cherries and a touch of spicy cocoa. Give it a year or two in the cellar, and it will really start to show its stuff. Drink from 2024–2045.

Deepest ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Dark forest fruit underlaid with sweet spices and fine noble wood nuances, a hint of licorice, fresh tangerine zest, attractive bouquet. Complex, juicy, powerful texture, dark nougat and ripe plums, ripe tannins, long finish, certain ageing potential.

Deep purple with an opaque core and a delicate ruby rim. Dense bouquet of dark cherry, clove buds and Dominican tobacco, followed by elderberry jelly and chocolate pastilles. On the complex palate, a soft texture, grainy extract and medium body. In the focused finish, black-berry contours, dark graphite, ending with sandy astringency and delicate firm notes in the background.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: velvety, sweet, finely opulent, powerful bouquet, blackberry jelly, pralines, coconut, blackcurrant, mint, fresh herbs, mocha. Densely interwoven, creamy, elegant, finely powerful, multi-layered palate with creamy fruit, varied, powerful, sweet aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, a dense, currently concealed elegant structure, and a very long, fresh finish.

Silky texture, sweet, finely opulent, powerful bouquet: blackberry jelly, pralines, coconut, blackcurrant, mint, fresh herbs, mocha. A densely knit, creamy, elegant palate, subtly powerful and multi-layered, with creamy fruit, a varied, intense, sweet aromatics profile, plenty of fine tannins, a dense, currently veiled elegant structure, and a very long, fresh finish. 19/20 2027 - 2048

Sinew and muscle to the tannins, this has character, depth through the mid-palate, good aromatics, damson and raspberry fruits, a real Pomerol success with oyster-shell salinity on the finish. Labruyère family, first year of organic conversion. Harvest September 15 to 30, 30% new oak.

The 2020 Rouget is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes bounding from the glass with exuberant notes of plum preserves, chocolate-covered cherries, and mince pies, followed by hints of tilled soil, wild thyme, and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating juicy black fruit with spicy accents and a soft texture, finishing minerally.

94-95

A charming, opulent nose with stewed strawberry and raspberry notes, followed by a subtle undergrowth aroma. The palate is sapid, lively and full of fresh fruit, with still-present tannins that would benefit from greater length.

The fruit character here is almost overripe. The palate is soft and flavorful, with medium body and length.