Clos Rougeard

Clos Rougeard sits in the tiny village of Chacé, within the Saumur-Champigny appellation, renowned for its exceptional Cabernet Franc wines. Its history dates to the 17th century when the property was established and has passed through the generations since. In the middle of the 20th century, the estate passed to the Foucault brothers Bernard (Nady) and Jean-Louis (Charly) Foucault.

Nady and Charly were pioneers of organic viticulture, eschewing chemicals to make wines as naturally as possible and inspiring other winemakers to follow their lead. Charly passed away in 2015, and the estate was sold to the Bouygues family – owners of Château Montrose in Saint-Estèphe – in 2017.

The domaine’s 11 hectares of vines are spread across 20 plots, mostly on clay and limestone soil. Four wines are produced: three reds under the Saumur-Champigny appellation and a white Saumur from Brézé. Of the red cuvées, Le Clos – a blend of several plots – drinks earliest. Les Poyeux is typically elegant and delicate, while Le Bourg is the most age-worthy wine.

The arrival of Martin and Olivier Bouygues saw significant investment, particularly in a new winery building, which officially opened in 2023. Richard Desouche and Jacques-Antoine Toublanc now head up the domaine in the vines and winery, aiming to maintain the exceptionally high standards achieved by the Foucault brothers.