Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves - L'Echelier blanc 2023
93/100
RVF
"A sparkling Chenin— Favorite true Favorite "
L'Echelier is a top-tier white Saumur—smooth and exceptionally precise. Thierry Germain brings out the best in Chenin with this superb cuvée.
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Eye
A bright, golden-yellow color
Nose
Concentrated, fresh, full-bodied, and powerful, with notes of orchard fruits, flowers, and citrus
Palate
A bold, powerful, and fruity attack, with a clean, rich, and mineral finish
Serve
At 10-12°C
Open
1 hour before
Drink before
2030-2035
Food and Wine Pairings
Enjoy it with fish in a creamy sauce, scallops, grilled sea bream, poultry…
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2026 guide): 5*Stars (Exceptional producers who represent the absolute pinnacle of quality in France and around the world)
About the estate:
Thierry Germain has made his estate a benchmark and a leading name in biodynamic winemaking and the great wines of the Loire Valley, while successfully passing on his passion to Jeanne and Louis, his children, who now work alongside him. The dense, energetic wines showcase the magnificent limestone terroirs of the Saumur-Champigny appellation, particularly the single-vineyard cuvées Clos Romans and Clos de L’Echelier. Low yields result in beautifully concentrated reds that are silky and long on the palate.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2026 guide) 93/100
Rated estate (2026 guide): 3*Stars (These represent the pinnacle of French winemaking. The finest terroirs cultivated by the greatest winemakers. Tasting their wine is always a magical experience)
About the wine:
In 2023, the white wines were a success; few Chenin Blancs from the Loire Valley could boast such balance that year. Refined and less full-bodied than in 2022, these wines reveal a more pronounced hint of bitterness.
About the estate:
The charismatic Thierry Germain has defined a unique stylistic approach to Saumur-Champigny and Saumur whites. The extensive work undertaken in the vineyards (using biodynamic methods, with some plots plowed by horse) is evident even in the estate’s most basic cuvée. The latest vintages of white wine reveal a remarkable briny brightness, capturing the essence of Chenin’s chalky expression on tuffeau soil. They set the taste buds and the whole body alight! The quest for crispness and a chiseled edge is undeniable in the reds, which can exhibit a delightful floral character. We are, however, convinced that they could reveal a more velvety, graceful, and ripe balance characteristic of Loire Cabernet Franc, in the style of La Marginale, whose vertical tasting held in April 2024 confirmed its aging potential.
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