Domaine Clos Rougeard and It’s Iconic Loire Valley Wines

Clos Rougeard is one of France’s most coveted wine labels and is considered on par with the best of Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Champagne.

This cult producer based in the Saumur Champigny appellation in Loire Valley, is owned by Martin and Olivier Bouygues and is known for its miniscule production (2500 cases a year.)

Clos Rougeard produces 100% Cabernet Franc reds (Saumur Champigny Le Clos, Les Poyeux and Le Bourg), and a 100% Chenin Blanc called Breze.

Let’s explore this cult winery, including its wine styles, best wines, winemaking philosophy, and the investment potential of the wines.

The Origins of Clos Rougeard

From 1969 to 2015, the eighth generation of the Foucault family - Jean-Louis Charly and Bernard Nady Foucault managed the estate.

The popularity of the Domaine skyrocketed in 1993, after a blind tasting where the 1990 Le Bourg beat vintages from legendary Pomerol estates like Petrus and Le Pin. 

With the demise of Charly Foucault in 2015, the Foucaults sold the estate to the Bouygues brothers (who own Château Montrose in Bordeaux.)  

Let’s look at the different wine styles produced by the estate. 

The Elegant Wine Styles of Clos Rougeard

Here are the gorgeous wine styles of the Clos Rougeard winery.

1. Saumur-Champigny Le Clos: A crisp Cabernet Franc with floral notes. The fruit for this Cabernet Franc is sourced from clay-rich plots around the village of Chace.

2. Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg: This Cabernet Franc wine from the Clos Rougeard estate has ripe fruit flavors and tremendous aging potential. The grapes for this Cab Franc wine are sourced from one plot with old vines over 80 years old.

3. Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux: A feminine Cab Franc wine with notes of vanilla and spice. The fruit is sourced from a vineyard with 50 years old Cabernet Franc vines.  

4. Saumur Brézé: A lively Chenin Blanc varietal wine with notes of ripe yellow fruit. Chenin Blanc grapes are sourced from a vineyard with old vines (40-50 years old) in the Saumur appellation.

Let’s explore the stunning vintages produced by the estate. 

10 Exceptional Clos Rougeard Wines To Buy In 2021 

Here are some of the finest wines from the estate of this cult producer. 

• 1990 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg Loire
• 1989 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg Loire
• 1997 Clos Rougeard Coteaux de Saumur Loire
• 1997 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg Loire
• 1990 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux Loire
• 1989 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux Loire
• 1978 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Loire
• 1993 Clos Rougeard Saumur Blanc Breze Loire
• 1980 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Loire
• 1995 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Loire

1. 1990 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg Loire, France ($2,390)

This classic Loire Valley vintage has notes of black fruits, camomile, and licorice. This Cabernet Franc fine wine makes for a great Cabernet Sauvignon alternative.  

2. 1989 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg Loire, France ($1,332)

A sunny red wine of great finesse which has tasting notes of bell pepper, tobacco, cassis, and a smooth lingering finish.

3. 1997 Clos Rougeard Coteaux de Saumur Loire, France ($1,039)

This Chenin Blanc vintage has ripe citrus aromas and notes of peach, passionfruit, and apricots. 

4. 1997 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg Loire, France ($950)

This Cabernet Franc has bold aromas of violets, plum with hints of vanilla, and tasting notes of red cherries, cigar box, and licorice. 

5. 1990 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux Loire, France ($896)

This exquisite Cabernet vintage has generous black fruit aromas, chewy tannin, and notes of truffles and oak. 

6. 1989 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux Loire, France ($883)

This enchanting fine wine has a dense palate of black fruits, cherries, and cassis with a long pronounced finish. 

7. 1978 Clos Rougeard Saumur Champigny Loire, France ($721)

This Cabernet Franc vintage has funky fruit aromas, fresh acidity, and notes of raspberry, herbs, and blackcurrant. 

8. 1993 Clos Rougeard Saumur Blanc Breze Loire, France ($600)

This extraordinary white wine from the Clos Rougeard estate has flavors of honey, yellow fruit and refreshing acidity. 

9. 1980 Clos Rougeard Saumur Champigny Loire, France ($584)

This fine Cabernet vintage has notes of rich dark fruit, new oak vanilla, black truffles, and cigar box aromas with a delicate note of violets. 

10. 1995 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Loire, France ($543)

This ruby-colored vintage has a fruity nose of strawberries and dried red fruit with a lingering herbaceous finish. 

Should You Invest In Clos Rougeard Wines?

Clos Rougeard’s limited production bottles are sold to exclusive clients or are sold off to adorn the wine list of Michelin-starred restaurants. 

This scarcity makes these wines highly desirable and extremely difficult to get hold of.

So how can you add these gorgeous bottles to your cellar?

The easiest way to add a Clos Rougeard or other Loire wines to your cellar is through a trusted wine investment company like Vinovest - which lets you build a wine portfolio with just a few clicks. 

Clos Rougeard’s reds like Poyeux and Bourg have a long aging potential of more than three decades. The white Saumur Brézé can be cellared for two decades and is considered as good as the best wines from the exceptional vineyards of Bordeaux and Burgundy.

The wines from the estate have enjoyed a stable price appreciation over time. For instance, the 1997 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg grew 38% from $637 to $934 from 2020 to 2021.

Winemaking in the Clos Rougeard Estate

The exceptional vineyards of Clos Rougeard reflect the Foucault family philosophy of minimum intervention and zero chemical exposure during vine cultivation. (The Foucault family owned the winery before the Bouygues.)

The vineyard is spread over 11 hectares and is planted with old vines, some over 100 years old. 

The grape varieties are harvested manually, and vinification occurs in giant concrete barrels. 

• Red wine is aged in French oak barriques for two years. 
• White wine is aged in 20% new oak barriques and rarely finishes malolactic fermentation. 

After vinification in the barrel, the wine spends two years in the bottle before being released. 

A Cult Wine From The Loire Valley Region

The Foucault brothers built a solid reputation for crafting some of the world’s most extraordinary and age-worthy Cabernet Franc wines.

Check out the Vinovest website to explore how to easily buy, store, and sell authentic Loire wines from Clos Rougeard and other prestigious wineries!