ABOUT THE WINE

Appellation | Pomerol

Grape |   85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc

Ageing | Aged in 50% new French oak barrels for an average of 15-18 months before bottling

Tasting Notes | Right from the nose it is evident to be a delegate, silky and polished wine. The nose presents with tabacco, chocolate and cherry. After tasting, the power of the wine is presented, showing the silky aspect and length followed by fruits and florals. A quality of tannins is surrounded by a wonderful portfolio of aromas

Pairing | Barbecue meats, notably rib eye steak

Drinking | 2022-2045

Critic Notes / Awards | 96/100 James Suckling - "Wow. This is very polished and full of purpose with dark berries, hazelnuts, cedar and chocolate, as well as black olives. Full-bodied, chewy and intense with a focused tannin backbone and intensity. Loads going on here. Finishes strong. This could be the best wine ever from here."

ABOUT THE CHÂTEAU

Château Rouget has one of the longer histories in Pomerol. The vineyards appear to have been planted by the ancient Romans at one point.
Although, coming closer to the modern age, Château Rouget makes its first appearance all the way back in the 1700’s, according to documents stored in the archives of Pomerol. For most of the 18th century, Château Rouget was owned by the Bayonne family.
At the time, Château Rouget had a great reputation. It was considered to be one of the top five wines of the entire Pomerol appellation. Near the close of the 19th century, in 1892, the estate was sold to the Dupuy family who later passed it to the Marcel Bertrand. A direct descendant of Marcel Bertrand sold Chateau Rouget to the Labruyere family in 1992. 

This was not the first wine venture for the Labruyere family. They have owned vineyards since 1850, in Beaujolais with Domaine Labruyere in the Moulin-a-Vent appellation. The Labruyere family also owns Domaine Jacques Prieur Musigny, in the Burgundy region and JM Labruyere in Champagne.
Prior to the 1992 sale to the Labruyere family, much of the production for Château Rouget was sold in bulk to Ets. Moueix. As soon as the sale closed, the new owners of Château Rouget set out to make a vast array of improvements and renovations to their entire right bank property.
The Labruyere’s goal was to do everything that what was needed to improve the wines of Château Rouget and not spare any expense to accomplish their ambition. Today, the estate is managed by Edouard Labruyere.

Current Owner: Edouard Labruyere

Soils: Clay

Farming: Organic farming and is in the process of becoming bio-dynamic 

Vines: Vineyards are planted with the most suited grape varietals: Merlot represents 85% and is combined with Cabernet Franc finding in Rouget the ideal ripening conditions. Soils can be either composed of clay and gravel or clay and silica. Subsoils consist of iron-rich sandstone. Vines are around 40 years old. The vast replanting program started in 1992 combined with the purchase of 5 high-quality acres from the prestigious neighboring estates on the high plateau in 1999 have considerably reinforced the position of the cru.

Intro for cooking videos. 

MATCHING RECIPE

Duck Confit