English
FrançaisIn Saumur-Champigny, Clos Rougeard embodies one of the most mythical and sought-after expressions of Cabernet Franc. Long led by the Foucault family and now owned by the Martin Bouygues family, this cult estate crafts wines of rare finesse, admired for their pure fruit, silky texture, limestone depth and remarkable ageing potential.
Clos Rougeard — The Timeless Legend of Saumur-Champigny
Clos Rougeard is one of the most mythical names in the Loire Valley and an absolute reference in Saumur-Champigny. Founded in 1664, this historic estate has built a unique reputation through wines of remarkable finesse, purity and longevity.
Long led by the Foucault family, then acquired in 2017 by the Martin Bouygues family, Clos Rougeard remains one of the most sought-after estates in France. Its red wines from Cabernet Franc and its rare white from Chenin Blanc embody a rigorous, elegant and deeply singular expression of the Saumur terroir.
A cult Loire estate where Cabernet Franc reaches an expression of rare distinction. Clos Rougeard combines limpid fruit, silky texture, limestone tension and artisanal precision. Each cuvée reveals a different facet of Saumur-Champigny, between grace, density and exceptional ageing capacity.
Terroir: clay-limestone, sand and Saumur tuffeau
The estate benefits from a remarkable terroir composed of clay-limestone and sandy soils, with a strong influence from Saumur’s tuffeau limestone. This geology gives the wines their natural elegance, length and ability to evolve nobly over time.
Cabernet Franc finds a crystalline expression here, far from any heaviness: precise fruit, fine tannins, noble vegetal freshness and a slender finish. Chenin Blanc, on the limestone soils of Brézé, reveals saline energy, chalky drive and rare depth.
Terroir expression: Saumur-Champigny, clay-limestone, sand, tuffeau, Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, red fruit, graphite, flowers and fine spices.
Clos Rougeard signature: finesse, pure fruit, long ageing, artisanal precision, silky texture, Loire elegance and great cellaring potential.
Viticulture and farming philosophy
The vineyards are farmed according to principles that respect the living environment, close to organic and biodynamic practices, without chemical inputs. This approach preserves soil integrity, natural vine balance and the identity of the wines.
Grapes are harvested at full maturity, with precise aromatic concentration and intact freshness. Each cuvée is vinified with rigour, then aged for a long period in order to reveal its texture and complexity without masking the expression of place.
Style of the wines
The red wines of Clos Rougeard are distinguished by a rare alliance of depth and elegance. Cabernet Franc expresses pure fruit, exceptionally fine tannins and a structure that gains complexity with time.
The style is never demonstrative: it rests on precision, freshness, texture and length. The great cuvées develop with age notes of tobacco, truffle, undergrowth, fine leather and graphite, while retaining the upright energy that defines the estate’s greatness.
Reds: raspberry, red cherry, fresh cassis, redcurrant, violet, peony, gentle pepper and graphite.
Evolution: blond tobacco, fine leather, noble undergrowth, discreet truffle, fresh earth, fine spices and smoky notes.
Brézé Blanc: lemon, quince, pear, white flowers, wet stone, chalk and saline finish.
Emblematic cuvées
Le Clos: the estate’s signature cuvée from historic parcels, expressing the balance between pure fruit, elegance, silky texture and impressive length.
Les Poyeux: a cuvée from a sandy terroir, renowned for its grace, lightness, aromatic finesse and exceptional precision.
Le Bourg: the mythical cuvée from a limestone parcel in Chacé, denser, more solar and structured, produced in very small quantities.
Brézé Blanc: a rare Chenin Blanc cuvée from pure limestone soils, marked by saline tension, chalky minerality and great aromatic richness.
History and transmission
A symbol of excellence and consistency, Clos Rougeard remained in the Foucault family for generations, reaching iconic status through discretion, rigour and fidelity to terroir. This family history has shaped the estate’s unique aura.
Since its acquisition by the Martin Bouygues family in 2017, the estate has continued its story while preserving its identity and traditional methods. Clos Rougeard remains one of the great names of the Loire, producing wines among the most sought after in the world.
Region: Loire Valley, Saumur-Champigny
Estate: Clos Rougeard
Founded: 1664
Surface area: around 15 hectares
Grape varieties: Cabernet Franc for the reds, Chenin Blanc for Brézé
Historic families: Foucault, then Martin Bouygues since 2017
In summary: Clos Rougeard is one of the great legends of the Loire Valley, a mythical estate where Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc reach a rare expression of finesse, depth and elegance.
Dominant aromas: raspberry, red cherry, fresh cassis, violet, peony, graphite, blond tobacco, fine leather, discreet truffle, chalk, quince and white flowers.
Current selection
Discover below the bottles from Clos Rougeard currently available at World Web Wines, selected according to arrivals, cuvée rarity, vintage quality, bottle condition and ageing potential.
