Château Rouget 2019, Pomerol, Bordeaux

Château Rouget is the grand vin of one of Pomerol’s historic estates, owned by the Labruyère family since 1992. The vines, around 40 years old on average, grow on clay-gravel and clay-silica soils over iron-rich sandstone on the slopes of the Pomerol plateau. The vineyard is planted about 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Grapes are picked by hand in several passes, sorted twice and vinified parcel by parcel in oak and stainless steel vats; part of the crop is fermented in barrel for gentle extraction. The wine is then aged for 15 to 18 months in French oak, around half of it new.

Château Rouget Pomerol is rich and velvety. The nose shows ripe plum, black cherry and blackberry with subtle spice, cocoa and earthy, truffle-like notes. The palate is supple and generous, with silky tannins, fresh acidity and a long finish.

It is superb with roast duck, beef fillet with a mushroom sauce, lamb or a truffle risotto. Serve at 16–17°C, with a short decant when young. Château Rouget is drinking well from around six to eight years after the vintage and good years will keep for 15 years or more.

Château Rouget is one of the oldest estates in Pomerol, recorded in archives and land registers from around 1700 and regarded as one of the appellation’s first official crus. Its house was built for the Bayonne family, and in the late 19th century Rouget was counted among Pomerol’s top five estates. Since 1992 it has been owned by the Labruyère family, who also own a Moulin-à-Vent estate in Beaujolais; Edouard Labruyère has led it since 2008. About 17 hectares of vines lie on the gentle slopes of the Pomerol plateau, near Église-Clinet, Petrus and Le Gay, on clay, gravel and iron-rich subsoils. The cellar was fully restored in 2001, and the estate has been certified organic since the 2023 vintage.