Château Rouget 2014

Modern in style, concentrated and rich in extract, with noticeable oak and smoky notes on the finish.

The 2014 Rouget was memorable, extremely rich and opulent when I originally tasted it from barrel. Now in bottle, it has retained that brash and ostentatious persona with intense oyster-shell-tinged red fruit that really packs a punch compared to some of its more demure brethren. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive density, a muscular Rouget at first, but give it time in the glass and you start to see more of its nuances and elegance. Hopefully time will temper the aromatics and if so, this will be a very worthy Pomerol. My only caveat is that the wood tannins are still conspicuous on the finish and they do need to be subsumed.

20th vintage under Labruyère ownership. Part fermented in barrel. Modern, ripe and plush—red fruit and well-integrated vanilla oak. Sweet and juicy on the palate, the oak lingering. Fresh and structured on the finish.

A unique red with abundant floral, bark and dark-fruit aromas that carry through to a full body, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Lively acidity. Needs two or three years to resolve. But it should come around nicely. 50% whole-bunch fermentation. Cool. Better after 2020.

Tasted blind. Dark, nuanced crimson. Subtle and haunting nose – real intrigue! Round and velvety. Very rich. Some may find this too much but I welcome the drama and richness. Pure hedonism. Quite sweet and hot. (JR)

The 2014 Rouget is a wonderfully complete wine that melds together super-ripe, racy fruit and structure. Succulent red cherry, rose petal, mint and white pepper give the wine its distinctive aromatic and flavor profile. Even with all of its flamboyance, the 2014 has plenty of structural underpinning. A few years in bottle should help the wine soften a bit. Even so, this is a decidedly opulent Pomerol. The 2014 was quite impressive both times I tasted it.

This wine offers soft, round textures, a forward character, and bright red berries with plums on a cocoa and herb finish. 88-90 pts

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with violet hues at the rim. Warm cassis bouquet, underpinned by nutty pralines and dark malt. On the palate, for 2014, an almost surprisingly rich body; the finish shows an affinity with an Australian Shiraz. And yet, it belongs to the modern but finest Pomerols. Simply different! I tasted it three times. If you seek a slightly erotic touch in a Pomerol, you should indulge in an affair here.

Concentrated, velvety, powerful bouquet of strawberries, blueberries, cedar, tobacco, dark chocolate. Velvety, dense and multi-layered palate with a creamy, elegant structure, plenty of fine tannins, diverse sweet aromatics, and a long, dense finish. Still has room to improve. 18/20 2024 - 2038

The 2014 Rouget is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. Notes of mint tea and kirsch jump from the glass, with hints of iron ore, sandalwood, and cigar box in the background. The medium to full-bodied palate has a good amount of mature muscular fruit, with rugged tannins and a long earthy finish. Tasted blind with the Southwold Group in London in February 2024.

There is flair in the tannin and a sap that is both elegant and indulgent.

The color is dense and the nose has a hint of truffle. The wine is characterful, but it lacks its usual density and also shows a slight under-ripeness. It should partly come together during élevage.

The color is dark and the nose is discreet. The palate is soft, with mid-palate fruit, medium body and medium length.

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with a violet rim. Warm cassis bouquet, underpinned by nutty pralines and dark malt. On the palate, for 2014, an almost illogically thick body; on the finish, an affinity with an Australian Shiraz. And yet, it is among the modern, but best, Pomerols. Simply different! I tasted it three times. If you seek a subtly erotic edge in a Pomerol, you should allow yourself an affair here.