Château Rouget 2016

Special Price $59.85 Average US Price $83.00
In Stock   Usually ships in 2-5 days, weather permitting
Only 24 left
SKU
5026-2016
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• Domaine: Château Rouget
• Appellation: Pomerol
• Origin: Right Bank, Bordeaux France

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.   

Tasting Notes

"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.com, (January 2019), Rating: 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), Rating: 92-94, Drink from: 2019-2035

 


More Information
Stock Status In Stock
Appellation Pomerol
Vintage 2016
Brand Château Rouget
Shipping Weight 3.000000

Pomerol is one of the most prestigious wine appellations in the Bordeaux region of France. Located on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, in its earlier history, the area was primarily engaged in mixed agriculture. It was home to many apple (“pommes,” in French) orchards that gave the name to the appellation. Its origins date back to the Knights Hospitallers, symbolized by the Pomerol Cross, and it flourished even amidst challenges like the Hundred Years' War. Proximity to the river port at Libourne facilitated exports, and post-World War II investments from French and Belgian investors contributed to its global acclaim. 

What sets Pomerol apart is its unique terroir, which includes both clay and gravel, distinguishing it from the traditional clay and limestone composition of Bordeaux's right bank. Merlot dominates, constituting 80% of the plantings, and thrives in the iron-rich clay subsoil called "crasse de fer" and its core of sticky blue clay, imparting distinct character and aging potential to Pomerol wines. 

Some of Pomerol's most prominent châteaux include Pétrus, Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Le Pin, Château Trotanoy, Château La Conseillante, Château Clinet, Château L'Eglise Clinet, Château Gazin, Château L'Evangile, Clos du Clocher, and Vieux Château Certan. Pomerol lacks an official classification system; instead, the reputation and quality of châteaux are based on historical performance. Unlike neighboring Saint-Emilion, the appellation exclusively produces red wine, while its white wines remain unclassified. 

Pomerol wines are known for their elegance, full body, and lush character, with dark fruit flavors, smooth tannins, and aging potential. While some can be enjoyed in youth, top wines can age gracefully for several decades, developing complexity and character over time.

Footnotes on Futures, Pre-Arrivals, and potential US Tariffs: 

1. As of June 15, 2021, the US and the EU agreed to suspend tariffs resulting from the Boeing-Airbus aircraft trade disputes. Accordingly, such import taxes are now suspended for the next five years.

2. Futures are expected to be available for delivery two years after the sales (e.g., the 2022 vintage, sold in 2023, will be delivered in 2025 mostly, or 2026 if the producer ages the wine longer).

3. Pre-Arrivals are items currently stored in our Bordeaux cellar or in transit from France to the US. It usually takes 1-6 months for Pre-Arrivals to become available for delivery, depending on the stage of the import process.

4. Regarding futures and pre-arrivals, we cannot guarantee specific delivery dates, which factors beyond our control may impact. However, we will notify you once your wine arrives in our cellar.

5. While a buyer of Bordeaux wine futures locks in an allocation of the specified items, the final delivery of the purchased items from France to the US may be impacted by intervening and unforeseeable events. Despite our due diligence, additional costs or delays may be caused by such intervening and unforeseen events and "an irresistible, superhuman cause, or by the act of public enemies of the state of California or the United States."  In such circumstances, if a buyer does not accept unforeseeable costs or delays, the sole and exclusive remedy is a cancellation of the futures order concerned and a refund of the original purchase price. We are NOT liable for any lost profits on a canceled order.

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