Le Fou du Roi
Saumur Champigny

Awards

Produced in small quantities and only in certain years, le Fou du Roi is rarely presented in competition.

Médaille de Bronze aux Decanter World Wine Awards 2009 (Londres)
Médaille de Bronze au concours International Wine Challenge 2014 (Londres)
Liger d’Argent au concours des Ligers 2015...

Description

This Saumur Champigny is a troublemaker, a shaker of preconceived ideas, born for celebration…or provocation!

AOP

Saumur Champigny.

Grape variety

100% Cabernet Franc

Location

Le Fou du Roi comes from old vines that are nearly 60 years old and are situated on the hillside of Parnay, on the banks of the Loire.

Terroir

The clay-limestone soil of the Turonien Supérieur (green tufa chalk) brings body and strength to this great vintage.

Vine management and harvesting

The Domaine de Rocheville has been committed to sustainable agriculture since the first year, in 2005, and obtained Terra Vitis certification in 2011, making official its eco-responsible approach both in the vineyards and in the winery. In 2016, we began a 3-year conversion to Organic Agriculture, a certification we obtained in 2019.

Sustainable viticulture and nature conservation are therefore in the DNA of the estate. In terms of working the vines, this is reflected in actions aimed at limiting the yield and thus increasing the concentration and quality of the juices (short pruning, disbudding, green harvesting….).

Avoiding any recourse to treatments also means favouring the winegrower’s natural allies, therefore the flora and fauna that protect the vineyard. This is done by naturally grassing the plots, planting hedges and rose bushes, installing nesting boxes…

Once the bunches of Cabernet Franc have reached optimal maturity, they are harvested by hand. With 25 hl/ha, less than half the average yield of the Saumur Champigny PDO, the “Fou du Roi” has the makings of an exceptional wine. It is only produced when the vintage allows it.

Vinification and maturing

Once at the winery, the grapes are destemmed and then sorted by hand on the table to keep only the best of the fruit. The Cabernet Franc berries/grapes are then poured into stainless steel vats where they are naturally pressed by gravity. The juice macerates for three to four weeks, then are stomped to extract the substance from the grapes. It is then transformed under the effect of a slow fermentation at low temperature. It is then transferred to oak barrels for a long ageing period of 24 to 36 months. All these stages result in a strong and complex red wine, unusual in the Loire Valley.

Storage

Le Fou du Roi has good ageing potential. It will express itself at its best after 3 years and will keep between 10 and 20 years in a good cellar.

Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Franc – Saumur Champigny – Saumur Champigny – Saumur Champigny – Cabernet Franc

Sensory discovery

Appearance

The intense ruby colour, slightly evolved, announces a wine of character.

Bouquet

The bouquet develops aromas of black fruits and roasted notes (coffee, tobacco), vanilla, gingerbread...

Palate

Le Fou du Roi of Rocheville does not fail to live up to his reputation. An atypical and expressive wine, it is strong and velvety smooth with its melted tannin. The palate is elegant and lets the structure and long-lasting flavour express themselves quickly.

Wine and food pairing advice from the winegrower

Le “Fou du Roi” will appeal to lovers of full-bodied red wines in association with red meats (tournedos with green pepper, rib of beef with liquorice…), spicy poultry, game (roe deer with cranberries…) but also duck aiguillettes or duck breasts, Baeckenhof or stuffed quails…
At the end of the meal, it accompanies cheeses, even well matured cheeses such as a soft Camembert, a Saint Nectaire, a Reblochon…
And for a surprising combination, try it with a dark chocolate dessert!

Serve between 14 and 16° C. We advise you to open the bottle at least 2 hours before serving or to decant your wine to give it time to release all its flavours

Le Fou du Roi
Saumur Champigny

Awards

Description