Château Rouget 2016

Château Rouget is one of the oldest estates in Pomerol, and the first records of this property date back to the Roman era.  This makes the Right Bank property a unique one, as a lot of estates in this part of Bordeaux are on the younger side.  Like any property with such a long-lived history, Château Rouget has had its fortunes rise and fall, yet under the latest ownership the property has risen dramatically in quality.  With scores in the low 90s and price under $100.00, Château Rouget is an excellent value wine that comes from a region with some of the most expensive, highly sought-after wines in the world. 

Château Rouget was accidentally planted by the Romans very early on.  The property had terroirs that were merged with both Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. Its first appearance in the modern age dates to the 1700s, when it was owned by the Bayonne family.  Château Rouget had a sterling reputation and was considered one of the top five wines in Pomerol – essentially making it a grand cru.  At the end of the 19th Century, the property was owned by the Dupuy family who later passed the estate on to Marcel Bertrand.  It stayed within the Bertrand family for a long time, until a descendant sold the property to the Labruyere family in 1992.

The Labruyere family has a long history within the wine industry, especially in Beaujolais.  They have owned Domaine Labruyere in the Moulin-a-Vent appellation since 1850 and Domaine Jacques Prieur Musigny in Burgundy.  When Château Rouget was purchased by the Labruyere family, it was relegated to selling off much of its fruit in bulk to négociants.  The Labruyere family saw enormous potential for the terroir of the estate – with some choice parcels near exalted producers like Château Pétrus and a stone’s throw away from Le Pin.  It was the mission of the Labruyere family to restore the estate to its former glory, and no expense was spared in this process. 

In 1997, they hired the incomparable Michel Rolland to consult on the property, and they expanded their vineyard holdings by 17-hectares.  There were some earlier plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, and these were removed and replaced with more plantings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  The vines are 28 years old on average, and Château Rouget practices a process called micro vinification.  Some of the fruit is fermented whole berry to reduce oxidization during the fermentation process. As of 2001, an extensive renovation was done at the estate, resulting in a brand-new vat room with a mixture of thermoregulated stainless steel tanks and wooden vats.  The current estate manager, Antoine Ribeiro, brings a lot of discipline and passion to the winemaking process at Château Rouget.  He is always striving to make Château Rouget one of the great Pomerol estates and it’s clear he is getting results.  The quality of grand vin has risen dramatically at this property, and critics are beginning to take note of the estate’s consistent progress, year after year.   

"The 2016 Rouget is a total turn on. A rush of red cherry/raspberry jam, sweet spice, chocolate and tobacco builds as this exotic Pomerol shows off its racy, opulent personality. The full throttle-style works beautifully. There is not a whole lot of subtlety, but the Rouget is undeniably delicious. I loved it. Tasted three times." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (January 2019), Ratings: 94, Drink: 2022-2036

"The 2016 Rouget is deep garnet-purple colored with baked plums, dried mulberries, tobacco and crushed rocks scents with wafts of beef drippings and Indian spices plus bay leaves hints. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and laden with earthy layers, it has a savory finish." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, (11/30/2018), Ratings: 92-94, Drink from: 2019-2035

"This is a plump wine with freshness and clarity of fruit, even on the nose. There are beautiful red fruits, definitely not as upfront as some, but it is authentic and vibrant and you can feel the juice coursing through the tannins. It is restrained on the finish, with a subtle, pure succulence." - Jane Anson, (04/24/2017), Ratings: 93, Drink : 2025 - 2045