Chateau Rouget 2023

JAMES SUCKLING: "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."

DECANTER: "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."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Flowers, spice, black raspberries, cherries, and herbs create the nose. The wine is supple, creamy, fresh, and vibrant on the medium-bodied, palate. The energetic finish leaves you with loads of sweet, ripe, red fruits with a sprig of mint on the backend. Drink from 2027-2043."

VINUM: "Expressiv und mit viel dunkler Frucht, Brombeere, Cassis, florale Noten; samtig am Gaumen, dicht, kräftig, satte Frucht, feines Tannin, sehr gute Länge. Hat Finesse und Klasse."

WEINWISSER: "Intensives Bouquet, frischer Heidelbeersaft, Schokopralinen und edle Cassiswürze. Am straff ausgerichteten Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, (zu) nerviger Rasse, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und trainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten langen Finale blaubeerige Konturen, dunkles Graphit und feinspröde Extraktfülle. Kann das gute Vorjahresergebnis leider nicht wiederholen."

JEB DUNNUCK: "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."

FALSTAFF: „Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart nach Limettenzesten und Veilchen, frische rote Beeren und Kirschen, einladendes Bukett. Mittlerer Körper, süße Beerenfrucht, zarte Tannine, etwas weitmaschig, dezenter Säurebogen, fruchtiger Nachhall, individueller Spätlesestilistik."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "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."