Wine Advisor
Clos Rougeard, Saumur Champigny Le Bourg 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Rebecca Gibb
The 2017 Le Bourg exemplifies the site's characteristic power and structure. This is not a wine that you should buy to drink now. This Cabernet Franc is almost beast-like compared with Les Poyeux, which is relatively accessible and graceful. It has rounded shoulders and finely woven yet structured tannins, which could be attributed to the clay topsoil of the Le Bourg site. It's a heady expression that displays the smoky bacon notes that can be found when it's a baby wine in barrel. It also offers mocha notes, and a heady perfume that lingers in the air as if you're in an Indian garden, followed with bergamot and tea leaf. This is a wine that moves with power and direction. Due for release - on allocation - to those lucky enough to be on the buying list for Clos Rougeard.
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
The 2017 Saumur Champigny Le Bourg exhales a deep, complex bouquet of tomato leaves, cherries, peonies, smoke, bacon, flowers and dark wild berries. Medium to full-bodied, broad and deep, it has structuring tannins and a rustic, austere finish marked by animal (horse sweat) notes.
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.
