Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Clos Rougeard
Label Name:
 
Saumur Champigny Rouge les Poyeux
Vintage:
 
2018
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Saumur‑Champigny, Loire Valley
Volume:
 
1500ml
ABV:
 
13%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Franc
Method:
 
Hand‑harvested, organic/sustainable viticulture; native-yeast fermentations, minimal intervention; free-run juice focus; aged 18–24 months in French oak (small percentage new); little or no fining/filtration.
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
3
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
3
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
14-16
Tasting Note:
 
Elegant, medium-bodied Cabernet Franc: red cherry, raspberry and plum with floral notes, tea-leaf, graphite and subtle tobacco. Fine ripe tannins, bright acidity and saline minerality finish with lingering spice and black-olive hints.
Food Pairing:
 
Western: roast duck, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, beef tartare, charcuterie and aged cheeses. Asian: Peking duck, char siu, miso-glazed aubergine, pork ramen, bulgogi or mildly spiced Sichuan pork.
Vineyard Info:
 
Clos Rougeard (est. 1664) made famous by the Foucault family; small-production, estate-owned parcels in Chacé. Known for strict low-yield, terroir-driven Cabernet Franc; sold to the Bouygues family in 2017 who preserved practices.
Awards/Ratings:
 
Decanter 93 (June 2022); Vinous 93 (2024); The Wine Doctor ~95 (vintage commentary); widely praised by critics for precision and age-worthiness