Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves - Les Mémoires 2021 (vignes de 117 ans!)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Sourced from vines over 110 years old, this cuvée opens with a silky texture and characteristic cherry notes. The tannins are firm, and floral hints perfectly enhance the finish. A major success for this vintage.

About the estate:

Thierry Germain has made his estate a benchmark and a leading name in biodynamics and fine Loire wines, 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.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2021 Saumur Champigny Les Mémoires, made from vines rooted in flinty soils over limestone subsoil, offers aromas of plum, violet, peony, spice, and smoke interwoven with flinty notes. Medium- to full-bodied, layered, and crystalline, it is deep and complete, with structuring tannins and a more austere character than the Clos de l'Echelier. It should celebrate its tenth anniversary in excellent condition.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

The Les Mémoires vintage infuses a beautiful energy, a healthy substance, and a firm finish.

About the estate:

The charismatic Thierry Germain has developed a distinctive stylistic approach to Saumur-Champigny and Saumur whites. The significant work undertaken in the vineyards (using biodynamic methods, with some plowed by horse) is evident even in the estate’s basic cuvée. The latest vintages of white wine reveal a remarkable saline brightness, capturing the essence of Chenin’s chalky expression on tuffeau soil. They delight both the palate and the body! 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 in April 2024 confirmed its aging potential.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

A vibrant, medium crimson robe. Pure, open, and expressive, with notes of Cabernet. The tannic structure is much finer than in the Clos de l'Echelier, and less compact here—the whole is more elegant. The texture is exquisitely refined, and the mid-palate is fragrant. A true beauty.

Vinous

About the wine:

From vines planted on clay-limestone soils in 1904, the 2021 Les Mémoires is fragrant, refined, and long. It offers rich concentration within an elegant and rather delicate whole. As one would expect from a wine of this age, it is youthful and bright, with primary fruit aromas of redcurrant, flowers, black olive, and even a touch of oak smoke. The tannins are certainly deep and substantial, but they melt in the mouth. The finish is refined and assured, with a sparkling acidity that provides a fabulous backbone.