Wine Advisor
Clos Rougeard, Saumur Champigny Les Poyeux 2008
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
The 2008 Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux is slightly green on the nose and reveals scents of freshly baked sourdough bread along with graphite, dark fruits, and a touch of raspberries. Straightforward and firm on the palate, this rather light-bodied, just ripe, peppery Cabernet Franc is somewhat austere and slightly drying on the palate, but has a stimulating grip and an authentic character.
Reviewed by: Payne
Bright ruby with a hint of garnet at the rim. Fascinating aromas of plum, cherry and wild spices. Suave, discreetly sweet and savory, with enticingly pliant flavors of red fruits, game and sage. Finishes lush and silky, with very smooth tannins and lingering notes of redcurrant and spicecake. Rather Burgundian in character, this cabernet franc is built to age. That said, it is the only cabernet franc from Clos Rougeard that I tasted for this article that is approaching the stage where I would open a bottle.
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.
