Chateau Rouget 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "Blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, mushrooms and earthy notes. Spices as well. It’s full-bodied with an unctuous texture. Balanced and savory with a fine, chewy tannin structure. Flavorful finish with length. One of the best ever from here. Try after 2025."

WEINWISSER: "Purpur mit opaker Mitte und zartem rubinrotem Rand. Ein betörendes Parfüm nach frischgepflückten roten Kirschen, Walderdbeeren und Brasiltabak, dahinter Heidekraut und Malzbonbons. Am delikaten Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, herrliche Extraktfülle, stützende Rasse und anschmiegsames kakaoartiges Tannin. Im gebündelten Finale verschlankt sich der Pomerol und endet mit roten Beeren, hellem Graphit und edler Adstringenz. Für die höhere Note reicht es dieses Mal (noch) nicht!"

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart floral, schwarze Kirschen, frische Mandarinenzesten, attraktives Bukett. Saftig, elegant, reife Herzkirschen, rund und mit eingebundenen Tannine ausgestattet, schokoladiger Abgang, gute Länge, ein facettenreicher Speisenbegleiter."

DECANTER: "Grilled oak influence on the nose, with excellent density to the flavours through the palate. Needs time to open up but it works and really has a sense of confidence and personality. 30% new oak. Drinking Window 2026 - 2045"

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2018 Château Rouget is a beauty and well worth seeking out, especially for those who love the richer, more full-bodied side to Pomerol. Lots of black fruits, chocolate, leafy herbs, and cedar notes emerge from this beauty, which has silky tannins, wonderful overall balance, and a great, great finish. This is one pleasure-bent, sexy 2018 that can be drunk any time over the coming 15 years or more."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Showing much better in bottle than in barrel, the wine is full-bodied, rich, round and supple. Layers of silky, sweet, black and deep red fruits meld perfectly with spice, cocoa, licorice, espresso bean and wet earth. The fruit filled finish combines length, lift and finesse. Give this 3-5 years before popping a cork."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Rouget offers up expressive scents of baked black cherries, blackberry preserves and boysenberries with hints of underbrush, pencil lead and cedar chest, plus a waft of bouquet garni. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of muscular, oak-infused black fruit with lots of earthy accents and a sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins, finishing just a little warm and tannic. There is a lot going on here, but it's all a bit disjointed right now. Give it a good 4-5 years in bottle and drink it over the next 15 years or more."