In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: dark cherry, fresh tobacco, iris, graphite

Palate: blackberry, cedar, fine tannin, long mineral length

Cult Saumur-Champigny from the Les Poyeux climat. More aromatic and slightly lighter-footed than Le Bourg, with dark cherry, tobacco and a long, fine-tannin mineral length.

What it pairs with

  • Roast saddle of venison
    Game and the wine's tobacco-and-cedar register align directly.
  • Duck a l'orange
    Caramelised duck and the wine's dark fruit are mutually flattering.
  • Black truffle and parmesan risotto
    Truffle and the wine's graphite-mineral length align.

History

Les Poyeux is bottled from the climat of the same name, a clay-limestone parcel adjacent to Le Bourg. The Foucault brothers established the modern Les Poyeux cuvee from 1988.

  1. 1988 — First vintage of the modern Les Poyeux cuvee

Facts

Producer
Clos Rougeard
Grapes
Cabernet Franc (100%)
Classification
Saumur-Champigny AOC
Oak
20 to 24 months in oak barriques, around 50 percent new
ABV
13.0%
Price
EUR 300 to 700 at retail
Drinking window
10 to 35 from vintage
First vintage
1988
Organic
ORGANIC CERTIFIED
Vegan
Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Scores

  • Wine Advocate 95 (2015 vintage, reviewed 2019)
  • Vinous 94 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2020)

Frequently asked about Les Poyeux

What does Les Poyeux taste like?

Dark cherry, fresh tobacco, iris and graphite on the nose; blackberry, cedar, fine tannin and a long mineral length on the palate. Full-bodied with firm tannins and high acidity.

When should I drink Les Poyeux?

Drink between 10 and 35 years from vintage. Decant 90 minutes for young vintages; mature bottles need careful handling for sediment.

What food pairs with Les Poyeux?

Roast saddle of venison, duck a l'orange, and black truffle and parmesan risotto are all canonical matches.

Where is Les Poyeux made?

From the Les Poyeux climat, a clay-limestone parcel adjacent to Le Bourg in the Saumur-Champigny AOC.

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