Clos Rougeard

Clos Rougeard: A Loire Valley Legend of Purity and Precision

Renowned among the world's most prestigious wine estates, Clos Rougeard is a cult domaine located in Chacé, within the appellation of Saumur-Champigny in the Loire Valley. Founded in 1664 and passed down through eight generations, the estate achieved mythical status under the stewardship of brothers Charly and Nady Foucault. Their uncompromising vision, deep respect for the land, and meticulous craftsmanship have made Clos Rougeard a benchmark for excellence in both Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc wines.

A unique terroir rooted in tradition

The estate covers approximately 10 hectares of vines planted on a mosaic of clay-limestone soils, typical of the Saumur tuffeau. These old vines—many over 50 years of age—thrive on nutrient-poor, well-drained soils that produce low yields and highly concentrated fruit. This geological richness, combined with a strict organic approach and manual vineyard work, creates ideal conditions for producing wines of purity, complexity, and depth.

Clos Rougeard practices a form of organic viticulture, rejecting the use of herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers. The soils are tilled by hand, and the ecosystem is preserved through gentle, minimal intervention. Every aspect of vineyard management is tailored to the rhythm of the vine and the expression of the terroir. The estate’s philosophy is to let the earth speak through the wine—with as little interference as possible.

Natural winemaking, long aging, and uncompromising quality

In the cellar, winemaking follows a low-intervention philosophy. Indigenous yeasts drive long, slow fermentations in open concrete vats. Macerations are extended, extractions are gentle, and no fining or filtration is applied. The wines are aged in French oak barrels for 18 to 30 months, depending on the cuvée. The choice of oak is highly deliberate: neutral barrels for Le Clos, one-year-old barrels for Les Poyeux, and new oak for Le Bourg.

Wines mature in the estate’s ancient underground cellars carved into tuffeau limestone. These naturally cool, stable caves provide optimal conditions for long-term aging, allowing the wines to develop elegance, balance, and remarkable aromatic complexity. The result is a style that is simultaneously powerful, refined, and extraordinarily age-worthy.

Iconic cuvées that embody the Clos Rougeard signature

Clos Rougeard produces four main cuvées, each with its own distinct identity and sense of place:

Le Clos is the flagship cuvée, a blend of several parcels from clay and limestone soils. It offers a harmonious balance of fruit, floral elegance, and freshness, with a refined texture and fine tannins.

Les Poyeux comes from a south-facing slope of sandy-clay soil. This wine is known for its silkiness and seductive aromas of red berries, violets, and spices. It delivers impressive precision and purity.

Le Bourg, the most powerful and age-worthy red, is made from vines over 70 years old planted on a deep, clay-rich plot. This wine combines concentration, structure, and depth with a remarkable mineral core and long aging potential.

Brézé is the estate’s only white wine, crafted from old-vine Chenin Blanc planted on marl-limestone soils. Aged partially in new barrels, it is an extraordinary Loire white that rivals top-tier Burgundian whites. Brézé displays vibrant acidity, mineral tension, and rich aromatic layers of citrus, stone fruits, and saline notes.

A cult estate revered by collectors and sommeliers

Clos Rougeard is produced in small quantities—around 40,000 bottles annually—and is released exclusively through allocation. Its reputation has grown quietly but steadily, driven by word of mouth and unwavering praise from connoisseurs and top sommeliers. Since the estate was acquired in 2017 by the Bouygues family, its legacy has been preserved with integrity and the same dedication to excellence.

Every bottle of Clos Rougeard is the result of extraordinary craftsmanship, long-term vision, and deep-rooted values. These are not simply wines; they are living expressions of time, place, and the passion of those who make them. The patience they demand is rewarded with wines of rare elegance, unmatched finesse, and exceptional aging potential.

To add Clos Rougeard to your cellar is to embrace one of the most iconic names in French viticulture. A treasure of the Loire Valley, Clos Rougeard delivers an unforgettable tasting experience for the most discerning wine lovers.