2011 may be less full-bodied, rich in extracts, yet harmonious—a dark, impressively bright, deep ruby colour. Lovely spice on the nose and is plump for the vintage. With a well-rounded, smooth palate, this has a balanced palate with spicy oak and ripe tannins complimenting the soft fruit. A delicious St Julien, 2011 is made from a lower percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than most Saint Juliens; this is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Merlot and a dash of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, aged in 75% new oak. 2011 gives pleasure.
Scores are consistent in the level of 94 to 95 and are high, for example:
RP94. This property has been on a qualitative tear over the last generation and produced one of the most successful wines of 2011. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it is broad, rich, medium to full-bodied and dense. In addition, it boasts an inky/purple colour, lots of concentration, silky tannins, and a bigger, richer mouthfeel than any of its St.-Julien peers. The result is one of the stars of the vintage. (Edited)
JS 93. Blackberry and currant aromas with hints of minerals. Whole body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Chewy and reserved. Just the right amount of fruit covering the tannins. Harmony for the vintage. Better in 2017.
WE94. This is a fruity wine that's abundant and gorgeously rich. There is a pepper edge, touches of new wood and a firm, dark core. Acidity and concentration are already integrated. Drink from 2018. (edited)
VertdeVin 95. The nose is elegant and fresh and offers concentration and power. It reveals notes of blackberry, cassis and slight notes of wild raspberry associated with a hint of red berries, very discreet hints of violet, iris and a subtle hint of nutmeg. The mouth is fruity, juicy, fresh, and well-balanced and offers an acceptable acidulous frame, tension, and refined concentration. On the mouth, this wine expresses notes of black cherry, blackberry and slight notes of wild raspberry associated with delicate touches of small red berries, flowers and a discreet hint of tonka bean, wood/toasted and a subtle hint of almond. Tannins are very discreetly tight. Good length.
Andre Larson 94. Very dense colour. The nose is modern and striking with toasted oak, coffee, minerals, dark berries, cassis and a cigar box. Very concentrated palate with plenty of dark fruit, good quality tannin, fresh and vibrant despite its concentration, elegant fruit and a rich, long finish. Excellent potential. (edited)
Parker says(quote and edited by us), 'Giscours' 1996 is atypical for the vintage, being soft, forward, and open-knit, with an absence of tannin. The wine exhibits a dark ruby colour and attractive berry fruit, but it is straightforward and easygoing. Drink it during its first decade of life. Today the vineyard covers 94 hectares, of which the grape variety is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. ' Thanks to Parker's low ratings: the price of Giscours 1996 is very nice, considering that it is from a fine 1996 from a Margaux Third Growth, a rare vintage with 27 years behind. We found Giscours 1996 agreeable, and so did Jeanne Cho Lee, who awarded it 94 points from the angle of a fine claret with the old-school type of making and 12.5% alcohol levels. While tannins are by now melted away, it remains Arsac and Labarde in style. Indeed its merits are for the consumers to decide.
The Giscours 1996 blend gives a natural balance and complexity. The vinification begins in concrete and stainless steel tanks for 18-28 days, then the ageing is 100% in French oak barrels (50% new and 50% of wine) and lasts from 15 to 18 months. A good claret at cru level, which aged fine.
Deep ruby colour purple reflections, very youngish. The nose tones are elegant black fruit notes with exquisite spicy and truffle touches. The palate is beautifully delicate, with subtle flavours of black fruit and plums that embrace the palate while keeping pleasant freshness on the finish—old Chateau with hundreds of years behind. Few people write about this Chateau and its vintages, so few views are found. PJ Mouieux writes that the wine has been vinified batch by batch, in oak or SS vats, then aged for 18 months in oak barrels (33% new). Traditional making and Grape Varieties 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc as well- not much on complexity but an expression of terroir. Planting density is very high: 3,000 vines per acre / 7,500 vines per hectare—Average Age of Vines: 40 years. Soil mixed balanced and exposure excellent, leading to the production of fine, elegant Pomerol. 2014 is intense and fresh. N
o worries.
Scores are consistently high, in the level of 93 to 94. For example,
94 points, James Suckling
A unique red here with so many floral, bark and dark fruit aromas that follow through to a full body, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Lively acidity. It needs two or three years to resolve the tannins. But it should come around nicely. 50% whole bunch fermentation. Cool. (2/2017). Edited.
93 points Vinous
The 2014 Rouget is a wonderfully complete wine that melds together super-ripe, racy fruit and structure. Succulent red cherry, rose petal, mint and white pepper give the wine its distinctive aromatic and flavour profile. Despite its flamboyance, 2014 has plenty of structural underpinning. A few years in the bottle should help the wine soften. Even so, this is a decidedly opulent Pomerol. 2014 was quite impressive both times I tasted it. (AG) (2/2017). edited.
94/100, VertdeVin, "The nose is fruity, gourmand, elegant and aromatic. It reveals notes of blackberry and cherry cream combined with subtle notes of cassis, crushed gariguette strawberry, liquorice, and toasted wood, as well as a hint of vanilla, dark chocolate and a discreet hint of coconut. The mouth is fruity, mineral, elegant, well-balanced, and sophisticated and offers fat and a good volume. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of crushed blackberry and sour cherries combined with slight notes of crunchy strawberry, cassis, small red berries, cocoa, liquorice, discreet woody notes and an imperceptible hint of coconut. Tannins are fine and well-built. Good length." Edited.
RP91. The 2014 Rouget was memorable, extremely rich and opulent when I originally tasted it from the barrel. Now in bottle, it has retained that brash and ostentatious persona with intense oyster-shell-tinged red fruit that packs 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; if so, this will be a worthy Pomerol. My only caveat is that the wood tannins are still conspicuous on the finish and need to be subsumed. Drink Date 2020-2038. Edited.
