Rouget 2023 (6.0L)

96-97 JS / 94 JA / 94 DE / 93-95 VM / 90-92 WI / 90-92 JD

A full and juicy red with plum, chocolate, and toasted oak that impress right away. It’s layered and intense with lots of flavor at the finish, going on for minutes. Better than 2022. - James Suckling

Inky, juicy, blueberry and blackberry fruits, has Pomerol typicty, slate character, fresh and with depth that makes you engage with what is going on, highly enjoyable. 30% new oak for ageing, 30hl/ha yield. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Pure and intense on the nose. Smooth and supple, great energy and focus to this, movement with ripe fruit but tight tannins. Feels a touch coiled and taut right now, but this will expand and soften in time. Lovely acidity and feeling of finesse all the way through. 3.6pH. Ageing 30% new oak. Organic certified as of 2023. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

The 2023 Rouget is deep garnet-purple in color. It is a little reticent to begin, needing a lot of swirling to coax out notes of plums preserves, blackberry pie, and cedar chest plus nuances of tapenade and sassafras. The medium-bodied palate delivers just enough black fruit flavors, with lightly chewy tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing earthy. The blend is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. - Lisa Perotti-Brown, Wine Independent

The 2023 Rouget is plush, silky and super-expressive. All the elements are impeccably balanced. Crushed flowers, spice, red/purplish fruit, mint and blood orange build nicely with time in the glass. Sensual and refined, Rouget is terrific in 2023. Rouget has always been a pretty extroverted Saint-Émilion. These days, picking a bit earlier and a touch of stem inclusion (30%) in the Merlots yields a bit more freshness, but there is still plenty of the textural richness that is such a signature here. Tasted two times. -- Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Cassis, smoky darker fruits, tobacco, damp earth, and some chocolaty notes all emerge from the 2023 Château Rouget, a richer, concentrated, powerful 2023 that has some spicy background oak, ripe, chalky tannins, medium to full body, and a great finish. It lacks a touch of elegance in its tannins, but this beauty brings beautiful fruit, texture, and length. Tasted twice. - Jeb Dunnuck