| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This property has been on the qualitative high road for a number of years, and the 2012 continues that path. Deep ruby/purple, with wonderfully sweet, earthy, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit jumping from the glass, it is broad, opulent, beautifully textured and juicy. This is a sexy, lush, heady Pomerol to drink now and over the next 15 or more years. Full, long and impressive, there is no reason to defer your gratification with this beauty.
Edouard Labruyere is improving Rouget year by year with astute parcel acquisitions. The bouquet is soft and sensual but maintains admirable delineation - ripe blueberry, cassis and blackcurrant that unfurl in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with good structure on the entry that renders this a more masculine, long-term proposition than the nose suggests. There is a gentle grip with a subtle liquorice note on the saline long-finish. Very fine. Tasted April 2013.
This deeply coloured wine has an exotic, ripe and expansive nose, with pink peppercorn, bramble fruits, incense and damson on the nose. The palate is rich, round, and smooth with highly refined but plentiful tannins providing the framework. This refinement means that there is an approachability to this wine, where drinkers can enjoy the sumptuous, ripe core of fruit that explodes on the palate. Lots of spice and smoke on the finish are in balance with the fruit. This is long, plump and glossy.
Ripe black plum gives fleshy richness on the nose and palate the fruit underpinned by chocolate. There is a fresher feel on the back palate some red fruits but there is black fruited power enriching and filling out the finish. 2017-26
The 2012 boasts a deep blue/purple color along with a big, sweet nose of kirsch liqueur, lavender, balsam wood, truffles and lead pencil shavings. The complex aromatics are followed by a full-bodied, opulently-textured, fleshy wine that has more in common with a 2009 than most 2012s tend to possess. This outstanding sleeper of the vintage should drink well for 10-15 years.
Proprietor Jean-Pierre Labruyere has done a magnificent job of resurrecting Rouget despite the fact that this is not one of the best terroirs. Since Labruyere has had control, the wine has gone from strength to strength. It is a large vineyard by Pomerol standards (42 acres), and the final blend for the 2012 is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc.
This property is situated near to L'Eglise Clinet and has been making succulent wines in recent vintages that can be drunk at a relatively early age thanks to their rounded tannins and sweet fruit. The 2012 offers a really attractive mouthful of ripe Merlot fruit. Fat, juicy and supple with fleshy richness and a hint of smoky bacon. This generous Pomerol will make delicious early drinking.
