2009 Chateau Rouget

France / Bordeaux / Pomerol Rouge
 
2009 was an exceptional vintage, with perfect conditions. The summer saw plenty of sunshine, neither too hot as in 2003, neither too rare as in 2007. The spring was humid, but not excessively, allowing the vines to build up sufficient water reserves for the whole growing season. At not time where the conditions excessive or detrimental to the quality of the vintage. The flowering was very consistent, in one weekend everything was blooming, which was the sign of a great vintage. Water-stress only came very late in the season, and the ripening was very homogenous across the estate. The wines are very intense, of great complexity and with long ageing potential.

Wine Enthusiast tasting note 92/100: "This rounded wine is dense, with firm tannins that are well molded into its sweet-tasting structure. Packed with ripe fruit, this will age relatively quickly, giving pleasure in 5-6 years".

Blend:
85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc.
 
Ratings vintage 2009:
Le Guide Hachette des Vins: 1 Star.
 
Gravelous soils mixed with clay. This soil composition, combined with an exceptional exposure, confers all the typicity, elegance and finesse to Château Rouget wines. Vineyards are sustainably farmed, using practices such as cover crops and ploughing.

Grapes are vinified batch by batch, in oak or stainless steel vats, then aged for 18 months in oak barrels (33% new). The wine is fined traditionally, using fresh egg white.
 
The estate is considered as being one of the first official Pomerol Crus. Indeed, it originally appeared in the archives and land register of 1700, corresponding to the construction of the estate's grand château by the Bayonne family. At the close of the 19th Century, Château Rouget was rated among the top five Pomerol estates in a classification of the appellation's wines. In 1992, the estate was purchased by the Labruyère family, who today manage the estate in consultation with renowned winemaker, Michel Rolland.