Clos Rougeard Brézé Saumur 2015

Details

The history of Clos Rougeard is inextricably linked to the Foucault family, rooted in the Chacé region since 1664. For over three centuries, eight generations of winemakers have succeeded one another, but it was the duo of brothers Jean-Louis (known as "Charly") and Bernard (known as "Nady") who forged the estate's legend. From the 1970s onward, at a time when agrochemicals were all the rage, they made the visionary bet on a natural, organic, and demanding approach to viticulture, proving to the world that Loire Cabernet Franc could rival the greatest classified growths.

The death of Charly Foucault in December 2015 marked a turning point. In June 2017, the estate was acquired by Martin and Olivier Bouygues, who also own Château Montrose in Saint-Estèphe.

Today, a new team carries on this legacy under the general management of Pierre Graffeuille. Since 2022, technical management has been entrusted to Cyril Chirouze, while Richard Desouche, the estate's iconic vineyard manager, continues to oversee the vines.

The vineyard now covers approximately 15 hectares (compared to 11 hectares historically, following recent acquisitions), divided into about twenty parcels across the communes of Chacé, Varrains, and Saint-Cyr-en-Bourg. The tuffeau subsoil (Turonian chalk) forms the backbone of this terroir.

True to the Foucault family's philosophy, the estate is certified organic. No synthetic molecules, herbicides, or pesticides are permitted. The soils are tilled, and yields are kept extremely low to promote the concentration of the juice. The venerable age of the vines, some of which are over a century old, plays a key role in the depth of the wines.

Winemaking at Clos Rougeard is characterized by fermentations with indigenous yeasts and gentle macerations, followed by extended aging (18 to 24 months) in oak barrels, deep within cool, troglodytic cellars. Recently, a new gravity-flow winery was inaugurated to further refine the precision of the process, and the use of new oak has been slightly reduced for the white wines to preserve their tension.