Château Rouget 2016

The alcohol lends a slight headiness to this wine, but it’s balanced by plenty of succulent red and black fruits that power through the palate, driving forward with real lilt and liveliness. It’s restrained on the finish, held in by bitter chocolate and liquorice.

Wow. This is very polished and full of purpose with dark berries, hazelnuts, cedar and chocolate, as well as black olives. Full-bodied, chewy and intense with a focused tannin backbone and intensity. Loads going on here. Finishes strong. This could be the best wine ever from here. Try from 2024.

The 2016 Rouget has an intense bouquet with liquorice-infused red fruit, white pepper and a touch of rosemary, gaining more tertiary scents as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip, wonderfully balanced, vibrant and spicy, with a persistent, quite powerful finish. It is a '16 that wants to be noticed, but frankly it does not hit like other, more successful recent vintages. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Lush, silky, rich and concentrated, the wine is polished, fresh, and juicy, with a silky-textured burst of licorice, cocoa, and a red-fruit-filled finish. This superb wine is a real value for Pomerol.

Modern new oak, ripe red and dark fruit, fine spices, dense and chewy palate, long roasted finish.

Purple garnet. Captivating red and blue berry bouquet with ripe wild strawberries and blueberries. Sweet extract with a firm palate and ripe, slightly powdery tannins, showing fine muscle and plenty of potential. Long finish with red currant and red plums, can gain further depth.

Kunz barrel sample 17: deep, velvety, sweet, spicy bouquet of strawberries, pralines, mint leaves, cedar, currants. Creamy, dense, full palate with powerful, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, dense structure, intense aromatics, long, finely opulent finish.

Deep, velvety, sweet and spicy bouquet: strawberries, pralines, mint leaves, cedar, currants. Creamy, dense, full palate with powerful, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, dense structure, intense aromatics, long, finely opulent finish. 18/20 2023 - 2040

Rouget 2016 is almost a pure Merlot (96%). Michel Rolland, the estate’s consultant, found the Cabernet Franc too powerful. One third of the vinifications were carried out entirely in barrels. This wine is deeply colored, ultra-creamy and generous, with a beautifully rounded profile. A Pomerol with great length, fruity and fleshy.

Deep purple. The bouquet of Rouget 2016 reveals itself rather unexpectedly, starting with truffle notes—something I’ve found in several 2016 Pomerols—and candied black berries. On the palate, the wine is suave right from the attack. It has compact, fine-grained tannins and a structure that works behind the scenes. The candied note also returns on the finish, which is fairly warm. This isn’t really a concern, but I believe it’s better to drink this wine in its youth, before the whole becomes unbalanced.

The nose is aromatic, indulgent and elegant. It reveals notes of Bourbon vanilla, fresh blackberry and fresh strawberry, combined with subtle hints of caramelized oak, discreet touches of fresh/fleshy blueberry and a very delicate floral note. The palate is fruity, juicy and balanced, offering good minerality, refreshing lift, indulgence and fine elegance. On the palate, this wine shows notes of fresh blackberry, fresh raspberry and fine cassis, joined by floral nuances, toasted oak, discreet hints of licorice and a subtle floral touch. The tannins are fine and well-handled. Good length.

Fruity wine, but with a flavor marked by dry grass.

Tasted blind. Very deep, lustrous blackish crimson. Low-key nose but it is very concentrated which is perhaps suppressing the aroma. Sweet and lightly charry. Tea leaves and a bit of alcohol but it desperately wants to impress. Just a bit overdone. (JR)