Wine Advisor
Clos Rougeard, Saumur Champigny Le Bourg 2014
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
Aged in 80% new small oak barrels, the 2014 Saumur Champigny Le Bourg opens with a smoky, spicy and fleshy bouquet of dark fruits intertwined with clove aromas. Round and supple on the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and juicy but also elegant Le Bourg that represents super ripe and sweet fruit (with licorice notes) along with ripe tannins.
Reviewed by: Jason Wilson
A brooding and dark style of Cabernet Franc. Aromas and flavors of spice, cigar box, and kirsch, with fresh and baked cherry and berry growing darker toward the finish.
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.
