Le Carillon de Rouget, Pomerol, 2020

An easygoing way into Pomerol from Chateau Rouget, one of the appellation's old names: this is the estate's second wine, drawn from younger vines on lighter, more aerial parcels. Merlot leads with a splash of Cabernet Franc, vinified in tank and aged in seasoned barrels so the fruit stays forward and the oak stays quiet. The 2020 vintage was warm and ripe across the Right Bank, giving a round, supple, generous version that's already drinking well. This is Pomerol you can pour tonight rather than bury for a decade, plush and welcoming without the grand-vin price tag. A smart everyday red for Merlot lovers.