Wine Advisor
Clos Rougeard, Saumur Champigny Le Bourg 2016
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Rebecca Gibb
The 2016 Le Bourg is a typically fragrant, heady and savory expression with smoky bacon characters meeting the red fruit. The clay portion of the clay-limestone soils in the vineyard tends to give a roundness to Le Bourg. There's also an innate sense of power within its mellow frame. There's a generosity here but it never becomes opulent nor heavy - this is Saumur-Champigny, after all, and it specialises in lightness. The tannins provide a relaxed, powdery veil for the mouth which suggests you could approach it now but if you're not on death's door and can wait, this has the componentry to go the long haul.
Reviewed by: Jason Wilson
This is a fine wine, but an obvious difference compared to 2015. Aromas of coffee, cigar smoke, menthol, and even leather. In the mouth, there’s explosive purple fruit, edgy tannins, and lots of licorice and spice. The oak is significant here.
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.
