Château Rouget Pomerol 2020

This is soft and chewy with very round tannins and lots of blackberry, toasted-oak, walnut and earth character. Traditional with a new vibe. Full-bodied, layered and juicy. Some tobacco, stem and chocolate, too.

The 2020 Rouget has a well-defined bouquet with blackberry and crushed strawberry scents. This is more floral than its peers, and the oak is nicely integrated. The palate is fresh, vibrant and medium-bodied with sappy, ripe black fruit. It's quite sharp on the finish, to the point where the acidity almost feels shrill. Give it time, as it does meliorate with aeration and is one of the best Rouget wines in recent vintages. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

The 2020 Château Rouget showed nicely, with plenty of ripe black cherries, melted chocolate, tobacco, and a hint of iron in its medium to full-bodied, richer, tannic profile. While it's not the most elegant wine out there, it has impressive depth of fruit, sound structure, and a great finish. Tasted twice.