2017 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Clos
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Tasting notes
Aromas of tomato leaves, licorice, dark wild berries and spices preface the 2017 Saumur Champigny Le Clos, a medium-bodied, supple and suave wine, with a tense and gourmand palate, concluding with a firm finish, which, unfortunately, is marked by carnal notes and somewhat rustic tannins.
Critic scores
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Le Clos is a blend of 15 sites across five hectares. It is a richly fragrant, brooding style, with lots of complex layers. Light on its feet, its compact core is rich with texture, and its flavors linger long. There's a meaty edge, olives, dried herbs and a rather drying conclusion, which is a bit suspect and leaves a question mark for its future longevity.
This is worth every penny of its price tag. It has a hushed intensity. It’s mellow, fitting into itself like an old library: dust and shelves, polished coppery red wood and the smell of a warm fireplace. Parchment and pages and ink and leather-bound books. It's sweet and smoky, concentration and power pulsing through the fruit in waves. Damsons, cloves and tobacco-smoke tendrils, cigars. The tannins fan fine and fragrant, across and through, a plethora but in exquisite restraint. This is a real beauty. One of the best wines of the tasting. (TC)
About the producer
Clos Rougeard is one of the Loire Valley’s most famous producers. Based in Saumur-Champigny, it produces fine Cabernet Franc in tiny volumes – wines that are almost impossible to source.