Clos Rougeard

Clos Rougeard : The legendary domain of Loire

Established on 10 hectares of the Saumur Champigny and Saumur’s appellations and located in Chacé in Maine-et-Loire, the Foucault family has been vinifying since the 17th century the wines that will become the most emblematic of the Loire’s region. The Domain Clos Rougeard covers the parcels of Bourg (the most prestigious one), the Poyeux (2,9 ha), and the Brézé, and produces the wines of the same names, more another one blended of 2 parcels called «Le Clos». It has been 8 generations that the domain exists and yet it is only since the 1990s that the name of Clos Rougeard » reaches new heights.
Indeed, the Foucault brothers of the 8th generation, Jean-Louis « Charly » and Bernard « Nady », precursors of organic farming in 1970, set up a sharp investment in plant material, and thus largely contributed to the development and the very high quality of this cepage cabernet franc thanks to a meticulous viticulture and long refining of 18 to 30 months.
However, the domain Clos Rougeard made history in 1990 during a great Pomerol’s degustation in Paris, during which a « Clos Rougeard Le Bourg 1990»’s cuvée was discreetly placed anonymously in the middle of Pétrus, Trotanoy and Le Pin of the same vintage, and succeeded in arriving ahead of Bordeaux in the standings ! This is how the legend was born.
The domain Clos Rougeard produce 20 000 bottles per year which make it a very rare and a collection's piece, and it is undoubtedly the greatest Loire’s ever produced. It combines the subtlety of the great Pinots Noirs of Burgundy and the richness of the best Saint Emilions. This makes it a wine that rivals the biggest names of France’s vineyard and does not have to be ashamed to be associated in the same tables as the latter. With great concentration and incomparable finesse, this graceful Saumur Champigny is a first-rate trophy that will reveal itself over time.