Clos Rougeard

While many people's experience of Loire Valley reds are of light, juicy, highly gluggable wines, which do little to fire the imagination, Clos Rougeard stands in distinct opposition. Rated by leading critics as amongst the world's greatest producers of Cabernet Franc-based wines, the domaine's output is typically full of substance, ripely flavoured and beautifully balanced with the classically brisk Loire Valley acidity.

Clos Rougeard's wines are produced as naturally as possible, with no use of herbicides or pesticides, no fining or filtration, and minimal use of sulphur. While not blockbusters in the vein of some Cabernet Franc-dominant right-bank Bordeaux, they do offer silky structure, incredible depth and complexity of flavour, and capacity for extended ageing.