Honest Grapes - Clos Rougeard 2015

Beloved by industry insiders and knowledgeable connoisseurs the world over, Clos Rougeard is undoubtedly one of the most highly-reputed wines in France. Unlike other estates of similar stature, it is not based in Bordeaux, Burgundy, or Champagne, but in the Loire Valley, with vineyards covering 10 hectares within the appellations of Saumur and Saumur Champigny.

The unrivaled quality of the wines is largely due to the extremely demanding viticultural standards practiced at the estate since the 1960s; with the high density planted vineyards remaining entirely untouched by chemical treatments, and always farmed organically. Everything is done by hand (or foot) and follows traditional methods with minimal intervention. Élevage lasts for at least two years in very cool deep underground Tuffeau cellars in oak. With age, the wines offer an almost Burgundian texture and aromatic profile with a purity of the fruit, a wonderfully seamless silky edge, and a natural elegance that is the antithesis of forcefulness. The underlying structure is magnificently refined. The Chenin too is very fine with a riveting minerality and superb intensity.