DiscoverVin is proud to be importing, distributing and retailing wine from one of the great producers of Pomerol, Château Rouget. Wines from both the 2006 and 2008 vintages are available exclusively from www.discovervin.com.au
Pomerol
is one of the most famous appellations in the Bordeaux region. Situated on the
“right bank”, Pomerol makes some of the greatest Merlot based wines in the
world. Pomerol is somewhat unusual in that it does not have a classification
system like some of the other French wine regions. Château Rouget is regarded
by many experts as one of the top producers in this small, but distinctive appellation.
According
to the 2011 Best Wines of France guide published by La Revue du Vin de France
(Review of Wines of France), Chateau Rouget is situated in the middle of some
of the best terroir of Pomerol. As a consequence of their pricing policy the wines
are great value. The team at DiscoverVin have looked at a number of producers
in the region and chosen not only one of the best but one of the best value
producers.
The 2006
and 2008 vintages of Chateau Rouget are both available exclusively in Australia
from www.discovervin.com.au
for $120 per bottle.
The Wines of Château Rouget
Merlot
is the dominant grape in the Château Rouget blend of Merlot (85%) and Cabernet
Sauvignon (15%).
Cellaring potential: According to
Jancis Robinson this wine would be best consumed from 2012 to
2016.
Tasting
notes: Given one star in the 2010
Guide Hachette. Dark ruby, big nose of plum, toasted oak and mocha, velvety
palate with blackberries, fig and cherries interwoven with earth and mineral
notes. The finish reveals its
depth with structure, balance and restraint.
Vintage
notes: Pomerol
enjoyed optimum growing conditions in 2006.
Decanter magazine included Château Rouget in its list of
best Pomerol châteaux for 2006.
Cellaring: Drinking well now but will keep for
decades!
Tasting
notes: “Bright,
dark crimson. Meaty nose and very rich, ripe purple aromas. Super smooth.” Jancis Robinson gave it a score of 16/20.
Robert Parker (Wine
Spectator) 91 Points: Similar
in style to the 2008 Bon Pasteur, the dark ruby/plum-colored 2008 Rouget is
unquestionably a sleeper of the vintage. Notes of mulberries, black currants and sandy, loamy soil as
well as a lush, seductive, medium to full-bodied mouth feel and good purity as
well as depth suggest it can be drunk now and over the next decade or more.
2 stars and a “Coup de Coeur” (or literally “our
favorite”) in the French wine industry bible, the Guide Hachette 2012.
Vintage
notes: Despite
some unfavourable weather conditions in 2008, a drier than average summer meant
it was a small, late vintage, but one of quite exciting quality, especially for
Pomerol. The long and slow
maturation lead to well-developed and complex aromas. Parker described Pomerol as the star appellation of the 2008
vintage, a vintage with good fruit, purity and freshness.
History of Château Rouget
Grapes
were grown in Pomerol in Roman times, but viticulture diminished during the
hundred years war. When winemaking resumed in the 15th and 16th
century, Pomerol was regarded as a minor satellite of nearby Saint
Émilion. Pomerol experienced
resurgence in the latter part of the 20th century. This success was due to a combination
of factors, but especially the influence of two key players. Robert Parker
introduced American wine drinkers to the pleasures of Merlot and oenologist
Michel Rolland consulted with many of the châteaux, providing advice on how to
produce the style of wine preferred by Parker.
Château
Rouget is thought to be named after Rougier a previous landowner in the
district. Since 1992 it has been
owned by the Labruyere family, who has renovated the vineyard, winery and
cellars.
After
investing in improvement in the original Château Rouget, the Labruyere family
purchased neighbouring châteaux in 1999.
The vineyards of Château Rouget now extend over 18 hectares and have an
average age or over thirty years, with vines of over fifty years of age in the
older sections of the vineyard.
Winemaking at Château Rouget
The soil
of Château Rouget is predominantly clay mixed with siliceous gravel in places
and a base of iron pan called the crasse de fer.
Michel
Rolland is an internationally renowned winemaker who since 1997 has been
responsible for monitoring the vineyard and wine at Château Rouget. Anthony Ribeiro is the Head of
Viticulture for the Estate. At the
instigation of Rolland and Ribeiro the two grape varieties - 85% Merlot and 15%
Cabernet Sauvignon, are harvested as late as possible. The grapes are picked by
hand into small crates, to protect the perfectly ripe grapes. They are then
vinified in wooden vats of 50 and 60 hl to refine the plot selection and enable
the best parcels to be selected for bottling. The whole plant is thermo-regulated.
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