Notes from The Wine Advocate:

"As usual, this overperforming estate from clay-limestone soils has produced a red wine crafted from ancient vines that punches above its weight. The 2021 Saumur Rouge La Charpentrie has delicate notes of violet, cherries, flowers, iris and dark wild berries. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with a fleshy core of fruit, it’s satiny and enveloping, concluding with a mineral, smoky and delicate pencil-lead finish. It will offer a broad drinking window.

Antoine Foucault, son of the late Charly Foucault from Clos Rougeard, is heralded as one of the most intuitive winemakers of his era. Since 2000, with his wife Caroline, he has developed a 12-hectare vineyard from the ground up, of which 5.5 hectares are dedicated to white grape varieties. Their daughter Emma also contributes to this family venture. Antoine, a staunch advocate for traditional viticulture, does not pursue organic or biodynamic labels. His winemaking methodology is rooted in tradition, "as I learned from my father," he frequently remarks, emphasizing gentle extraction, destemming, abstaining from racking in barrels and extended aging periods—nearly two years—plus an additional year in the bottle before release. In my view, Antoine crafts outstanding red wines that marry the precision of Cabernet Francs with the richness of clay and the sharpness of limestone and produces white wines with purity, minerality and depth. Without question, this estate ranks as a jewel of Saumur, with Antoine illustriously advancing the Foucault family legacy."