2021 Rouget (Pomerol)

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. 91-93 points

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. 90-92 points

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. 90-92 points

An excellent and well-located estate that uses some whole bunch fermentation, this has carefully placed black fruits, well extracted, touches of lemongrass and redcurrant giving the signature of the vintage alongside deeper blackberry fruit and firm tannins. 89 points