2022 Chateau Rouget - Pomerol AC

Decanter.com – 95 pts – GH: *Bright and forward on the nose, smells deep but lively, perfumed and vibrant. Smooth and rich with a chew to the present tannins giving a fleshy, ample feel to the palate while the acidity gives the bounce and the ripe black fruit gives the density and concentration. Feels powerful, just reigned in well enough to be vibrant and not too heavy, but there's heft here no doubt. Strong, characterful but the acidity just about keeps things fun. A touch tense at the end, restricting some of the length with toast, cedar and clove spice that lingers. A bit more serious at this point than some though still with plenty of appealing Pomerol swagger. 3.6pH. Rolland & Associés consultants.* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Reife Pflaumen, schwarze Waldbeeren, kandierte Orangen, etwas Nugat. Komplex, kraftvoll, schokoladige Textur, reif und anhaftend, ein opulenter, ausladender Stil, bereits entwickelt.* - 01/2023

WeinWisser – 18/20pts – GL, TW: *Betörendes Bouquet, frisch gepflückte Alpenheidelbeere, Brombeergelee, Lakritze, parfümierter Pfeifentabak und satter Veilchenduft. Am sublimen durchtrainierten Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, herrlicher Extraktfülle, gut stützender Rasse, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett und dunkler Mineralik. Im konzentrierten Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, Edelholz und feinmürbe Adstringenz. Auf dem gleichen Niveau wie 2019 und 2018, aber reiner und mit mehr Konzentration.* – 04/2023

JancisRobinson.com – 17/20pts – JR: *80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. 30% whole bunch because of the winemaker’s Burgundian origins. Cask sample. Dense crimson. Heady, opulent, exotic nose. Very sweet and round – Tertre Roteboeuf comes to mind. Extremely polished and extreme in general. Already utterly hedonistic with the fresh, ripe fruit almost disguising the considerable tannic charge. Looks really good to me. Long.* - 04/2023

Vinous.com – (92-94) pts – AG: *The 2022 Rouget is compelling right out of the gate. Succulent dark red cherry fruit, spice, cloves, menthol and licorice all race across the palate. Medium in body and wonderfully energetic Rouget is a winner. I especially like how it marries fruit richness and vibrancy, one of the signatures of the best wines in this vintage.* - 04/2023

Vinous.com – (90-92) pts – NM: *The 2022 Rouget has a high-toned nose with crushed violets and iris flower, ebullient blue fruit blossoming in the glass. Maybe just a tinge of /sur-maturité/. The palate is medium-bodied with thickly-textured tannins that lacquer the mouth. Bold and almost brash, it needs more finesse and precision to manifest on the finish by the time of bottling.* - 04/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (92-94) pts – JL: * Medium-bodied, with notes of espresso, plums, and cocoa before you find the luscious layers of black and red pit fruits, silky tannins, and chalky finish with its white peppery edge on the back end. Drink from 2025-2042.* - 05/2023