Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg

Could use some time to mellow out slightly. Phenomenal on the nose. Big red fruits that give way to the earthy green you’d expect. Great finish and well balanced for relatively young. Give it 1-4 years more to let the edges round out before trying again.

Step up in quality over Poyeux for sure, excellent intensity and concentration of fruit. The lift and elegance runs across the range of 2018s, which is of stark contrast to the denser and deeper 17s I’ve tasted. It’s difficult to say my preference here but I think the 17s will probably have a longer runway.

Wine Culture Clos Rougeard and Montrose / WEA champagne tasting : Some friends warned me that I might not like this wine (because I was tasting the wines at leisurely pace and was behind the others), but found this wine to be the best of the Rougeards by far. After all the foreboding I was expecting a tannic monster, but this was a concentrated, elegant rendition of a Loire Cab Franc. Superbly balanced, by far the best of the '18s.

Clos Rougeard tasting by Wine Culture : More dark fruited than Les Poyeux, also more horse sweat and denser. Lots of sweet fruit, cassis and dark chocolate. Warmer in character, with tannins like a velvet glove. Already drinking well, great ageability.