2021 Chateau Rouget - Pomerol AC

Falstaff Magazin – 92 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Attraktive Beeren- frucht, zart nach Lakritze und Sanddorn, Brombeerkonfitüre, zarte Edelholzstütze. Mittlere Komplexität, feine Kirschfrucht, gut integrierte Tannine, elegant und aus- gewogen, zartes Nougat, feine Säurestruktur, bleibt haften, leichtfüßig und balan- ciert, vielversprechendes Entwicklungspotenzial.* - 04/2022

The Wine Advocate – (91-93+) pts – WK: *A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Rouget offers up aromas of sweet berries, cherries, licorice and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, it's impressively concentrated, with fine depth at the core, powdery tannins and lively acids. A success in this challenging vintage, in recent years Rouget has benefited from the acquisition of some small parcels on the plateau (in the Clinet sector and near Le Pin), as well as the relegation of the less propitious parts of its historic vineyard to a second wine. Anyone who has tasted the great Rouget wines of yesteryear such as the famous 1961 will know what this estate is capable of, and the Labruyère family is working hard to realize its potential. Tasted three times.* - 04/2022

JamesSuckling.com – (93-94)pts - JS: *I like the round tannins and juicy mouth-feel to this wine, showing softness and focus. Medium body. Pleasant redcurrant and chocolate undertones.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (90-92) pts – AG: *The 2021 Rouget is a very pretty, sensual wine with no hard edges and fine balance. Red fruit, sweet tobacco, spice and bright orange peel nuances all take shape in a classy, mid-weight Pomerol that is already very nicely put together. Rouget is quite satisfying today.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (90-92) pts – NM: *The 2021 Rouget, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, has a well-defined bouquet of vivacious red fruit, plus touches of black truffle and incense; the oak here is nicely integrated. The medium-bodied palate offers black fruit laced with licorice on the entry, along with modest depth and fine acidity. Quite structured on the back end, showing a touch of sour cherry mixed with allspice on the aftertaste. Maybe it is just missing some precision, but this has more presence than some of its Pomerol peers, and a couple of edges will be abraded during élevage.* - 04/2022

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (91-93) pts – JL: *Flowers, licorice, thyme, cinnamon and cherries on the nose and mid-palate. The wine is soft, fresh, round, sweet and fruity, with a bright, supple-textured, juicy, red and black plummy finish. The wine blends 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2023-2038.* - 05/2022