2003 Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux
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Tasting notes
With a salty, smoky, sweaty overlay to its nose of concentrated, dried black fruits, the Clos Rougeard 2003 Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux certainly reflects its vintage. But the Foucaults suggest that holding off until the end of September to harvest – thus, “only” around two weeks earlier than normal – was critical to success, and certainly the creamy-textured, nut paste and black fruit preserve-flavored palate exhibits less abrasiveness and considerably more sheer juiciness than many an ‘03. Lovely inner-mouth florals, high-toned cherry almond, and piquant nuttiness of finish draw attention away from the tannins and inform an impressively long finish. This appears to need 5-7 years in the cellar, but I think it’s hard to predict the maturation of wines from this freakish vintage, even those from so talented a crew as this. Importer: Louis/Dressner Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 334-8191
Critic scores
David Schildknecht, Vinous
David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
With a salty, smoky, sweaty overlay to its nose of concentrated, dried black fruits, the Clos Rougeard 2003 Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux certainly reflects its vintage. But the Foucaults suggest that holding off until the end of September to harvest – thus, “only” around two weeks earlier than normal – was critical to success, and certainly the creamy-textured, nut paste and black fruit preserve-flavored palate exhibits less abrasiveness and considerably more sheer juiciness than many an ‘03. Lovely inner-mouth florals, high-toned cherry almond, and piquant nuttiness of finish draw attention away from the tannins and inform an impressively long finish. This appears to need 5-7 years in the cellar, but I think it’s hard to predict the maturation of wines from this freakish vintage, even those from so talented a crew as this. Aug 2007, www.robertparker.com
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.