Wine Advisor
Clos Rougeard, Saumur Champigny Les Poyeux 2011
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
The 2011 Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux is dressed in a dark and dense red color. Very pure, intense, ripe, concentrated and almost bloody, as well as leathery on the nose where black olives, licorice, black cherries and wild berries, including raspberries, are exhibited. The wine starts silky and elegant and develops a crescendo of intense, concentrated and sweet aromas of black fruits, raspberries and cigar box. The tannins are matured and elegant, the finish intense and refined by a severe woody note. This is no big or over-concentrated Cabernet Franc, but it is very well balanced and accessible early as was the 2006. Drink now until 2025+.
Reviewed by: Payne
Deep ruby. Lovely lift to the gamey aromas of blackberry, violet and wild flowers. Discreetly sweet, layered and seamless, showing perfectly integrated acidity and a chalky quality to the vibrant tannins. Juicy, vinous, intense and delicately suave, this distinguished cabernet franc finishes with subdued cassis fruit, subtle spices and superb length, reminding Nady of the 1993.
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.
