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Rouget 2016

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot

This Chateau is situated between L'Eglise Clinet and Le Gay. Already organic, it is in the process of becoming bio-dynamic. The Labruyère family from Burgundy are the owners here and aim to produce a charming and silky-textured Pomerol. the 18 hectares are planted with 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc.

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Label

Tasting Notes

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.

96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2019

The 2016 Rouget is deep garnet-purple colored with baked plums, dried mulberries, tobacco and crushed rocks scents with wafts of beef drippings and Indian spices plus bay leaves hints. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and laden with earthy layers, it has a savory finish.
Drink Date
2019 - 2032

92
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Interim No), November 2018

This is a plump wine with freshness and clarity of fruit, even on the nose. There are beautiful red fruits, definitely not as upfront as some, but it is authentic and vibrant and you can feel the juice coursing through the tannins. It is restrained on the finish, with a subtle, pure succulence.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2045

93
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2017

Deep, dense crimson. Heady, meaty, very Pomerol. Sweet palate entry and then very rich. Almost too rich! But certainly dramatic. All on the beginning – goes a tad scrawny on the end. Stereotypical Rolland style.
Drink 2023-2031

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2017

Showing lots of upfront oak influence, the 2016 Château Rouget nevertheless has some serious density and depth, with beautiful fruit. Notes of chocolate, smoked earth, and camphor all develop with time in the glass, and on the palate, it’s full-bodied, firm and chewy. It could use more elegance, but this is going to round into form with 2-4 years of bottle age, at which point the tannins are going to be more integrated and it’s going to show more charm. It should keep for 15 years or more. Drink 2021-2036.

90+
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, February 2019

Sweet fruit the nose has a rich mix of flavours the palate ripe black plums fleshy mid richness. Lighter and firmer at the back but the tannins are well integrated and although slightly tight on the back palate there a sweet rich ending. 2025-35

88/90
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2017
87
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2017
Read more tasting notes...

A red with a full body, round and juicy tannins and plenty of fruit. It’s got plenty ahead for its transformation in barrel. Excited with this one. Better than the 2015.

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2017

The 2016 Rouget was showing a lot of opulence and decadence on the nose with layers of ripe blueberry and crème de cassis scents. The palate is sweet and slightly bitter on the entry. Plenty of saturated tannin here and very structured, but this Rouget needs more freshness and tension towards the finish. It is an ambitious Pomerol for sure, but it seems to be pushing down too hard on the accelerator. I tasted this Rouget three or four times just seeking a sample that articulated the terroir with a little more clarity. Let's see how it performs once in bottle.

89/91
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (230), April 2017
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.