Château Rouget 2018

Chateau Rouget is one of the older estates of Pomerol on Bordeaux's Right Bank, run by the Labruyere family since 1992 and ranked among the leading properties of the appellation by the nineteenth century. The wine is led by Merlot with Cabernet Franc. Pomerol is defined by its clay soils, often with a band of iron rich subsoil known locally as crasse de fer, which gives Merlot depth, density and a mineral, savoury undertone. A warm site and a ripe vintage push this bottling to a full fifteen percent, so expect a rich, powerful style. Ageing runs to around eighteen months in French oak barriques of two hundred and twenty five litres, where slow oxygen exchange builds structure and adds sweet spice and toast. Malolactic fermentation softens the acidity and rounds the texture. Colour is deep, near opaque ruby. The nose shows ripe plum, black cherry, dark chocolate and liquorice over leather and cedar. The palate is full bodied and dense, with ripe firm tannin, warming alcohol and a long, savoury finish. Decant well ahead and serve at around seventeen degrees with rich red meats.