Within Clos Rougeard's trio of red wines, Les Poyeux best emphasises the elegant, silky house style. The nose is nimble and focused, showing notes of old leather, dried herbs, potter's clay and red plums. The mid-weight palate is simultaneously refined, sleek and dusty, with dried cherry and crushed gravel flavours. In recent years, Rougeard has ascended from its former place of relative secrecy, but I'm surprised by its often-overlooked place in Cabernet Franc conversations that usually centre around blue-chip Right Bank Bordeaux châteaux. Rougeard is every bit their equal.

The 2010 Poyeux has not yet closed down for a period of hibernation and consequently the wine is absolutely singing with youthful exuberance at present. The bouquet soars from the glass in a pure and nascently complex blend of cherries, a touch of pomegranate, cocoa powder, cigar wrapper, gentle notes of menthol and vanillin oak and a glorious base of soil tones. On the palate the wine is deep, pure and full-bodied, with simply superb, seamless balance, a great core of sappy fruit, stellar transparency, suave tannins and impeccable focus and grip on the long and oh, so promising finish. This will be a very red fruity vintage of Poyeux and should prove to be one of the very finest here in the last quarter century! (Drink between 2025-2085)

Only recently released, the purple-colored 2010 Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux attracts with a delicate and very elegant, though not over-concentrated, bouquet of floral and fruity aromas exhibiting Mediterranean herbs and very clear and coolish cherry and wild berry aromas along with cedar wood flour. Full-bodied, smooth, and intense, this absolutely delicate and elegant red is structured by the finest tannins and a delicious acidity that let this persistent wine sing on your palate. It combines finesse with intensity in a very remarkable manner and is divinely balanced. A great wine to drink now or in the next 20-25 years.- SR

Dark ruby with a blackish core. Ethereal strawberry and raspberry aromas are lifted by rose petal, violet and wild spices. Juicy and intensely perfumed on the palate, with red berry flavors complicated by floral and saline elements and a note of tobacco. Extremely rich but still very closed, this cabernet franc boasts perfectly balanced acidity, fine-grained tannins and excellent spicy persistence. By Joel B. Payne on December 2014