Clos Rougeard, Saumur Champigny, Le Bourg, Loire, France ***On Allocation***, 2020

Producer Profile

Located not far from the village of Saumur, Clos Rougeard was run by eight successive generations of the same family.

The most recent, brothers Charly and Nady Foucault, adopting a singular philosophy of “leaving the wine in peace so it can express its own identity” since they took over in the 1980s. In 2017 the estate was purchased by the Bouygues family, who have continued the work begun by their predecessors to enhance reputations of Saumur and Saumur-Champigny while maintaining a deep respect for the heritage that has gone before them.

Viticulture

Sourced from a single walled parcel in Chacé, the “Le Bourg” vineyard lies on shallow clay–limestone soils atop tuffeau bedrock. The vines are old (planted around 1948) and are farmed organically with minimal intervention.

Winemaking

The grapes are hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured for 18–24 months in barrels — predominantly new oak. After barrel ageing, the wine is further aged in tuffeau-cellar bottle maturation before release

Tasting Note

Intense aromas of blackberries, dark plum, graphite, spice and subtle liquorice. On the palate, it is powerful and elegant, with firm yet fine tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long, mineral-tinged finish that promises outstanding ageing potential

Food matching

Roast beef, prime rib, veal, truffle-infused dishes or wild game.