Château Rouget 2017

High extract, grainy tannins, noticeable oak spice, an alcohol‑driven finish; true to itself.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Rouget has a pronounced nose of stewed plums, sautéed herbs, baked black cherries and mulberries with wafts of fallen leaves and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of savory-laced black fruit preserves, with a chewy texture and earthy finish.

Black pepper and cloves on the attack, with bigger tannins overall than many in this vintage, and attractive menthol notes on the finish. This is good, if austere. Frost meant there was no second wine, Carillon de Rouget, in 2017.

Yum. Wonderful aromas of crushed berries, wet earth, sweet tobacco and fresh leather. Full body. Very tight, pinpointed palate with depth and length, too. The precision and balance is exceptional here. Try after 2023, but already a beauty.

The 2017 Rouget has a high-toned bouquet of black cherry, cassis and iodine that suggests a later picking than its peers. This has a very “modern” Pomerol nose. The palate is rich and powerful on the entry, grippy with dense tannins, a Rouget eager to make an impression, though it is lacking some finesse and nuance on the finish.

Medium-bodied, forward and floral, with the right amount of licorice, plums, dark cherries and even darker cocoa. The wine is soft, round, and needs only a few years in the cellar.

Deep dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening, black berry confit with a delicate floral background, a hint of liquorice, a hint of orange zest. Juicy, pleasant cherry fruit, delicate sweetness, mineral and harmonious, red berry, uncomplicated style, shows maturity and certain ageing potential.

This estate continues to produce outstanding wines in just about every vintage, and the 2017 Chateau Rouget is no exception. Deep purple/ruby-hued with lots of chocolatey dark fruits, toasted spice, graphite, and incense notes, this puppy hits the palate with medium to full body, a rounded, sexy texture, and no hard edges. It's already a joy to drink yet should keep for 10-15 years.

Kunz barrel sample 18: (85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc) Mineral, powerful bouquet, strawberry jelly, blueberries, Nutella. Velvety, finely opulent palate with a dense, creamy structure, intense fruit, plenty of fine tannins, full aromatics, long, fresh finish.

(85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc) Mineral, powerful bouquet, strawberry jelly, blueberries, Nutella. Velvety, finely opulent palate with a dense, creamy structure, intense fruit, plenty of fine tannins, full aromatics, long, fresh finish. 18/20 2024 - 2042

A deep, juicy, sappy wine with lovely substance, fine tannins, and great length.

The nose is aromatic, elegant, well-crafted, and offers power as well as complexity. It reveals notes of boysenberry, wild berries, small berries, and, more subtly, violet, clay (terroir), spices, with a hint of tobacco, lily, crushed cardamom, along with subtle toasted touches and a discreet hint of pepper. The palate is fresh, fruity, balanced, finely tight, and offers lovely definition, a fine acid backbone, a racy minerality, a touch of juiciness, beautiful tension, some glycerol, straightness, a fine creaminess, delightful indulgence, dynamism, good freshness, and a lovely fine grain. On the palate, this wine shows notes of blackberry and blueberry and, more slightly, strawberry, combined with fine/discreet touches of flowers, clay (terroir), tonka bean, and sweet spices. The tannins are elegant. The finish is finely powdery. Nice work!

Dark, intense color. Moderately aromatic nose with ripe fruit, and above all more precise than it used to be. Round, smooth, fruity palate, very pleasant. Medium length.

89–91. Barrel Sample. Dry tannins give this wine its structure and shape, with flavors of licorice and dark chocolate. Its black plum fruits will need to balance with this firmer structure. Drink from 2024.