2017 Saumur Champigny Le Bourg
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Saumur Champigny Le Bourg exhales a deep, complex bouquet of tomato leaves, cherries, peonies, smoke, bacon, flowers and dark wild berries. Medium to full-bodied, broad and deep, it has structuring tannins and a rustic, austere finish marked by animal (horse sweat) notes.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Le Bourg is a classical Cabernet Franc, offering up floral, violet character alongside its characteristic smoky bacon and black tea leaf tones. It's taut and not as burly as the 2018, and I like it for that. Refined, elegant and remarkably delicate on the palate before showing its hand of power and sinew, this is long and delightful.
This vintage was the last for Jean-Louis "Charly" Foucault, and exudes ripe blackberry and dark cherry as well as earthy, wet stone delivered with full-bodied bravado. I get oak-derived toast and vanilla that - for me at least - slightly perturbs the fruit purity, even almost seven years after vintage. And while balancing acidity and a long finish reassure, I understand why the Bouygues ownership has decided to lower the new oak percentage in Le Bourg. 100% new oak.
New barrels. Dense crimson hue. Complex nose with chalk and chocolate notes to the fore. Punchy and powerful with plenty of drive, the tannins plethoric but extremely fine. Power and finesse combined. Huge potential. (JL)
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.