An excellent Rouget this year -there is perhaps the slightest trace of heat on the attack, but it disappears into the body of the wine, and this is really rather lovely. When you think back to this wine even in good vintages like 2009, it didn`t have the flesh on the bones that it has today. It’s even more impressive that the weight has been gained without sacrificing balance – a great job from Edouard Labruyère, 3.4pH. Tasted on multiple occasions. Drink 2026 - 2040. 93 points

85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc; 25% new oak.Very dark black-cherry colour. Sweet vanilla-laced black fruit, nicely stony/dusty to balance the sweet blueberry fruit. Extremely smooth, polished and rounded and a touch of vanilla sweetness on the finish. 16.5 points

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Rouget sports quite a lot of oak at this stage, opening out to lively red and black plums notes and notions of baked cherries, blueberry compote and dried mulberries plus wafts of raisin cake, tree bark and bouquet garni. Full and concentrated, with a firm, fine-grained frame, it fills the palate with berry preserves and offers plenty of spicy and earthy nuances on the long finish. 91-93 points

The 2018 Rouget is plush, flamboyant and exotically beautiful. Super ripe black cherry, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves are all amped up. Sumptuous fruit and silky, polished tannins add to its considerable appeal. Although not especially subtle, Rouget is very beautiful in 2018. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy big, rich wines. This full-throttle Pomerol is a real star in 2018. Tasted three times. 91-94 points