Wine Advisor
Clos Rougeard, Saumur Champigny Le Bourg 2010
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
The 2010 Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg exhibits a dark red color and a deep and polished, smoky bouquet of black berries, rosemary, espresso and cedar wood. Intense and sweet, with persistent black berries and mocha aromas and an almost nutty enamel this noble, full-bodied Cabernet Franc is enormously dense and concentrated. Though still severe and far away from being developed, it is extremely well balanced and full of elegance and finesse and packed with everything a great wine needs for the next 20+ years. This Saumur-Champigny from the one-hectare cru Le Bourg, which was planted in 1948, challenges the world's finest Cabernet Francs. Although it is not easy to grab a bottle or even a case it's worth every effort.
Reviewed by: Payne
Deep ruby with a blackish core. Black raspberry, dark chocolate and toasted oak on the alluring nose. Rich and slightly chunky, with ripe, smoky flavors of kirsch and boysenberry complicated by the sumptuous thrust of new wood on the palate. Finishes long, on redcurrant, woodsmoke and a note of cinnamon. With substantial but discreetly sweet tannins that will require time in bottle to soften, this cabernet franc is a long-distance runner at the starting gate.
About the Producer
This humble estate located in the heart of the Saumur-Champigny appellation has garnered a cult like following for its texturally enticing, elegant, and understated Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc wines. The Foucault brothers, Nadi and his late brother Charlie, took over the family vineyards in 1969, and are the eighth generation in their family to run this 17th Century estate. They are considered the pioneers of organic and biodynamic viticulture in their region, producing Cabernet Francs of incredible concentration and length that are on par with many left bank Bordeaux château. Le Bourg, which is their top cuvée, is a small one hectare plot with vines almost 80 years in age, producing shockingly low yields of 15 hl/ha that lower than most of the top Burgundian producers. The equally rare Chenin Blanc named Brèze, is quite simply put, the pinnacle of Chenin in Loire coming from a tiny one hectare plot of 40-50 year old vines. These are incredibly pure, lean whites with great power and intensity, as well as excellent freshness.
