Vivian Liang | September 21, 2021
This week, our regional offer from France places the spotlight on the beautiful and versatile region of the Loire Valley, focusing on the wines from the iconic Clos Rougeard estate in Saumur-Champigny and the wines from Jacky Blot, a star producer that has redefined the Montlouis appellation.
Clos Rougeard
Eight generations of the Foucault family have been hard at work to create the legacy and singularity of this estate. Led by the brothers Nady and Charly since 1969, the vineyard has been farmed organically without any modern fertilizers or pesticides. Other trademarks include low yields, natural yeast, and no fining or filtration before bottling.
After the death of Charly in December 2015, and since June 2017, the estate belongs to the Bouygues brothers, Martin & Olivier, who also own Château Montrose in Bordeaux and Domaine Henri Rebourseau in Burgundy.
The pure expression of Cabernet Franc is showcased with red berries, bell pepper, herbs, and smoky notes. The uniqueness of the terroir composed of clay and limestone provides tension and balance to this wine with a real sense of savoriness and vivacity. Both the 2012s and 2013s of the Saumur-Champigny are drinking beautifully, especially when decanted prior to your enjoyment.
Jacky Blot
Jacky makes great Chenin Blanc under Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups and some outstanding Cabernet Franc under Domaine de la Butte. He implements meticulous vineyard management that advocates no chemical treatments, low yields, and intense grape selection. The vinification and élevage take place in the barrels, without malolactic fermentation, which gives his wines a refreshing acidity and provides additional complexity.
Hauts de Husseau is a single, as well as the highest, vineyard in the Montlouis appellation with thin flinty soils over limestone. The wine is pure, precise, and shows lots of finesse. Whereas the Clos Mosny is on a gentle south-facing slope, where sand and flint soils are predominant. This wine shows gorgeous ripe fruits with good intensity.
Haut de la Butte is a lovely cuvée that is fresh, pure, showing charming black fruits with subtle leafy characters. Mi-Pente is made from 80 years old vines. The wine is powerful, deep, rich, and chewy. It would be a perfect pairing for rich meat dishes.
