France · Loire

Clos Rougeard

Clos Rougeard is perhaps the most celebrated name in the Loire Valley, a tiny Saumur-Champigny domaine whose Cabernet Franc wines are widely regarded as the finest examples of the variety anywhere in the world. The Foucault brothers — Charly and Nady — farmed their 11 hectares of very old Cabernet Franc vines with obsessive care for decades, producing wines of extraordinary depth, purity, and longevity from sites they have farmed since the 17th century. The two flagship red cuvées — Le Bourg and Les Poyeux — come from the oldest vines and show different aspects of the limestone terroir: Le Bourg is more structured and mineral; Les Poyeux more aromatic and elegant. A small amount of white Saumur from Chenin Blanc is also produced. Following Charly's death in 2015 and Nady's in 2019, the estate was acquired by Martin and Charline Bouygues (of Château Montrose). Production is tiny — 2,000 to 3,500 cases in total — and the wines have always far exceeded their appellation's humble reputation in terms of price and critical acclaim. At auction, Clos Rougeard is one of the Loire's rarest and most valuable wines, with older vintages regularly selling for prices comparable to top Burgundy.