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saumur-champigny

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Saumur-Champigny

Overview

Saumur-Champigny is the prestige red wine appellation within the Saumur zone of Anjou, built entirely on Cabernet Franc from the famous tuffeau limestone soils — the same soft, porous chalky-yellow stone that forms the cave cellars and building material of the region. The tuffeau imparts a very specific chalky, stony soil signature to the wines, plus ideal drainage and heat retention. The benchmark estate is Clos Rougeard (Foucault family), now sold. The best wines can age 30–50+ years.

Key Producers

  • Clos Rougeard — historical benchmark; les Poyeux and le Bourg; sold by Foucault family; 2009 les Poyeux scored 95 at 15 years (“First Growth”)
  • Domaine des Closiers — les Closiers, les Coudraies (92 pts 2021), Trezellières (95 pts 2020 — with Clos Rougeard-inspired partial new oak)
  • Domaine Filliatreau — Château Fouquet (Brézé), la Grande Vignolle, Vieilles Vignes; plus Saumur-Champigny Blanc “Cuvée Lena”
  • Domaine Clotilde Legrand — les Lizières (young vine) and “À l’Ecart” (white Saumur Chenin Blanc)
  • Château du Hureau (Philippe Vatan) — “Tuffe” cuvée; serious long-aging
  • Domaine Guiberteau (Romain Guiberteau) — “Saumur Brézé” Blanc (Chenin); les Motelles rouge

Style Notes

The key Saumur-Champigny style: Cabernet Franc on chalky tuffeau limestone producing wines of purity, refinement, and extraordinary length. The flavors are cassis, dark berries, cigar wrapper, juniper berries, chalky tuffeau soils, espresso, and woodsmoke. The greatest wines are full-bodied but never heavy — pure and elegant in the same way as great Burgundy. Some new oak (especially Clos Rougeard’s le Bourg; the Closiers Trezellières uses ~20% new) deepens complexity without overpowering.

Best recent vintages for Saumur-Champigny:

  • 2022: Excellent; ripe and sappy; les Closiers 92, les Lizières 92
  • 2021: Outstanding structure; Coudraies 94, Château Fouquet 93; need 10+ years
  • 2020: Very good; Trezellières 95 (outstanding), la Grande Vignolle 92+
  • 2018: Ripe; Vieilles Vignes 92+; needs 6–8 more years
  • 2010: Philippe Vatan Tuffe 92+; mature and drinking well
  • 2009: Clos Rougeard les Poyeux 95; “First Growth”; still needs years

My Tastings

(none yet — Clos Rougeard bottles in cellar per My Cellar)

Sources

  • sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC May-June 2024 #111.txt — Annual Loire Report, Saumur-Champigny section (pages 110–113): 2022–2009 vintages; five producers; Clos Rougeard 2009 tasting note

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