2006 Rouget

Tasted at the château, the 2006 Rouget was always a quietly impressive Pomerol when it was released and it continues to offer great quality. The bouquet is very pure and comely, with ripe strawberry and raspberry coulis aromas, beautifully defined, very focused and tensile. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a mixture of red and black fruit, superb mineralité and backbone, long and sustained on the finish. This Rouget seems to be improving in bottle and it will be fascinating to watch its progress. Proprietor Edouard Labruyère described it as becoming "a real Pomerol now." I would agree. Tasted April 2016.

Rather woody but with sweet cassis peaking through. A bit jammy on the nose and palate (maybe sample a little oxidised?). Pleasant but not much depth and slightly harsh on the finish. (JH)

Red-ruby. Spicy red cherry and minerals on the expressive nose. Fine-grained and fairly deep, showing a medicinal red cherry austerity and a rather cool character but also good restrained sweetness. Finishes with dusty, building tannins.