Château Rouget 2014

$67.00
Out of stock
SKU
5026-2014

Other Vintages We Offer:

• Domaine: Château Rouget
• Appellation: Pomerol
• Origin: Right Bank, Bordeaux France

Château Rouget is one of the oldest estates in Pomerol, and the first records of this property date back to the Roman era.  This makes the Right Bank property a unique one, as a lot of estates in this part of Bordeaux are on the younger side.  Like any property with such a long-lived history, Château Rouget has had its fortunes rise and fall, yet under the latest ownership the property has risen dramatically in quality.  With scores in the low 90s and price under $100.00, Château Rouget is an excellent value wine that comes from a region with some of the most expensive, highly sought-after wines in the world. 

Château Rouget was accidentally planted by the Romans very early on.  The property had terroirs that were merged with both Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. Its first appearance in the modern age dates to the 1700s, when it was owned by the Bayonne family.  Château Rouget had a sterling reputation and was considered one of the top five wines in Pomerol – essentially making it a grand cru.  At the end of the 19th Century, the property was owned by the Dupuy family who later passed the estate on to Marcel Bertrand.  It stayed within the Bertrand family for a long time, until a descendant sold the property to the Labruyere family in 1992.

The Labruyere family has a long history within the wine industry, especially in Beaujolais.  They have owned Domaine Labruyere in the Moulin-a-Vent appellation since 1850 and Domaine Jacques Prieur Musigny in Burgundy.  When Château Rouget was purchased by the Labruyere family, it was relegated to selling off much of its fruit in bulk to négociants.  The Labruyere family saw enormous potential for the terroir of the estate – with some choice parcels near exalted producers like Château Pétrus and a stone’s throw away from Le Pin.  It was the mission of the Labruyere family to restore the estate to its former glory, and no expense was spared in this process. 

In 1997, they hired the incomparable Michel Rolland to consult on the property, and they expanded their vineyard holdings by 17-hectares.  There were some earlier plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, and these were removed and replaced with more plantings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  The vines are 28 years old on average, and Château Rouget practices a process called micro vinification.  Some of the fruit is fermented whole berry to reduce oxidization during the fermentation process. As of 2001, an extensive renovation was done at the estate, resulting in a brand-new vat room with a mixture of thermoregulated stainless steel tanks and wooden vats.  The current estate manager, Antoine Ribeiro, brings a lot of discipline and passion to the winemaking process at Château Rouget.  He is always striving to make Château Rouget one of the great Pomerol estates and it’s clear he is getting results.  The quality of grand vin has risen dramatically at this property, and critics are beginning to take note of the estate’s consistent progress, year after year.   

Tasting Notes

"The 2014 Rouget was memorable, extremely rich and opulent when I Originlly tasted it from barrel. Now in bottle, it has retained that brash and ostentatious persona with intense oyster-shell tinged red fruit that really pack a punch compared to some of its more demure brethren. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive density, a muscular Rouget at first but give it time in the glass and you start to see more of its nuances and elegance. Hopefully time will temper the aromatics and if so, this will be a very worthy Pomerol. My only caveat is that the wood tannins are still conspicuous on the finish and they do need to be subsumed." - Neal Martin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (03/31/2017), Rating: 91, Drink from: 2020-2038

 

 


More Information
Stock Status Out of Stock
Appellation Pomerol
Vintage 2014
Brand Château Rouget
Shipping Weight 3.000000

Pomerol is one of the most prestigious wine appellations in the Bordeaux region of France. Located on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, in its earlier history, the area was primarily engaged in mixed agriculture. It was home to many apple (“pommes,” in French) orchards that gave the name to the appellation. Its origins date back to the Knights Hospitallers, symbolized by the Pomerol Cross, and it flourished even amidst challenges like the Hundred Years' War. Proximity to the river port at Libourne facilitated exports, and post-World War II investments from French and Belgian investors contributed to its global acclaim. 

What sets Pomerol apart is its unique terroir, which includes both clay and gravel, distinguishing it from the traditional clay and limestone composition of Bordeaux's right bank. Merlot dominates, constituting 80% of the plantings, and thrives in the iron-rich clay subsoil called "crasse de fer" and its core of sticky blue clay, imparting distinct character and aging potential to Pomerol wines. 

Some of Pomerol's most prominent châteaux include Pétrus, Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Le Pin, Château Trotanoy, Château La Conseillante, Château Clinet, Château L'Eglise Clinet, Château Gazin, Château L'Evangile, Clos du Clocher, and Vieux Château Certan. Pomerol lacks an official classification system; instead, the reputation and quality of châteaux are based on historical performance. Unlike neighboring Saint-Emilion, the appellation exclusively produces red wine, while its white wines remain unclassified. 

Pomerol wines are known for their elegance, full body, and lush character, with dark fruit flavors, smooth tannins, and aging potential. While some can be enjoyed in youth, top wines can age gracefully for several decades, developing complexity and character over time.

© 2024 Laguna Cellar. All rights reserved. (888) 390-WINE | Drink Responsibly | End Drunk Driving