Wife out of town for the week, my little buddy MarcF swings by for some lamb, comraderie and some really nice wines. We got a good chuckle out of being the sole Berserkers down here in the wasteland of Orlando, kinda like an outpost of civilization. We are all giddy about popping these decent wines, all the while Tooch is texting us about HDH tastings and verticals of Dominus . . . .
2005 Clos Rougeard Les Poyeux, Saumur Champigny
Seems like these Rougeards are becoming the elusive unicorns of the wine world, amazing when you consider it’s Loire Cab Franc. This bottle in the after market cost me about six bottles of Baudry. Makes ya blink. But alas, it really is that good, that distinct. And it’s not even yet showing its true worth. Decanted for 2.5 hours before consuming. The splash decant revealed some really lovely aromatics of bramble, ash and sweet red fruits, but have to admit the nose shut down hard by the time we poured our first glass. This is a very structured vintage, less open than say the '07 or '09, and more layered, suggesting it will out-shine with time. We moved on to the d’Issan, coming back to the Rougeard after about 4 hours open. Now we are talking. The nose opened up to reveal more elegant-styled Cab Franc aromas, less of the rusticity that I see and generally seek in Loire reds, some green peppers, spicey/sweet raspberries, herbs and tobacco. Lovely presence on the palate, medium weight, caressing, layered, just beautiful. These Rougeards would confuse me blind with a Franc de Pied, so similar in texture, so refined. Come back in 5 years.
(93+ pts)
2001 Chateau d’Issan, Marguax
MarcF and I have very similar palates (but for his infatuation with Torbreck and Ch. Macard!). We are both generally enamored with the 2001 and 2004 vintages in Bordeaux. We’ve popped lots of '01s together, and rarely have we been disappointed. The d’Issan is no exception. Wide open from the get-go. Unlike the Rougeard which started tight and needed to open, the d’Issan actually put on weight and structure as it was exposed to air. Pop and poured, lovely Margaux perfume of cassis, florals, soft wood and a touch of sweaty saddle leather and musk. The nose alone is worth the pour. Also medium weight, soft and plummy, resolved tannins, lovely balance. No reason to wait on these if you have them, I am looking to buy some more.
(91 pts.)
PS. Both wines labeled at 12.5%, both showed complete class and restraint, especially on the oak.
and went ahead and helped myself to a glass from one of most mystical of Loire producers…Rougeard…there is an old quote regarding this great winery-Charles Joguet, the great winemaker of Chinon, once said: “there are two suns. One shines outside for everybody. The second shines in the Foucaults’ (Rougeard) cellar.”…
…Outside of some freehand sketches from my 7 year old I know fairly little about art, but Robert’s paintings are clearly fine collectable works…