The 2017 Rouget has a perfumed bouquet with opulent red and black fruit with a touch of crushed violets developing in the glass. Recent vintages have felt a little excessive but this 2017 demonstrates more control and refinement. The palate is medium-bodied with good structured, a lick of chocolate upon those red and black fruit and maybe just a touch of wood tannin towards the finish that will need to be absorbed by the end of its barrel maturation. This might turn out to be a fine Rouget but it will require a prudent élevage. 90-92 points

This has depth and juiciness, making it an enjoyable, bright, if a little austere Pomerol. Tasted twice, and both times it showed well, with slightly backwards tannins that need time in the glass to unfurl. They use a touch of whole-cluster fermentation at Rouget, which may be adding to this early tightness, but there is a lovely freshness alongside a sense of juicy bramble fruits. A small section of the vineyard was affected by frost, meaning there is no second wine, Carillon de Rouget, this year. The rest of the grapes were brought in between 20-29 September, with harvesters going through each plot several times to pick the fruit when ripe. 91 points

Black with purple rim. Very ripe damson aroma. But the tannins are thick and dry so the whole seems pretty tough. Chewy, uncompromising. May come round. 15.5 points

The 2017 Rouget is very deep purple-black in color with a nose of preserved plums, blueberry compote and mocha with suggestions of wood smoke and beef drippings. Medium-bodied, quite firm and chewy in the mouth, it has just enough black fruit preserves flavors and a grippy finish. 89-91 points