Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves - Clos de l'Echelier rouge 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

The wine’s limestone character is clearly present from the first sip to the finish, with a savory and lively chalky minerality.

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:

Made from grapes grown in white clay just 10 centimeters deep over limestone in the commune of Dampierre-sur-Loire, the 2021 Saumur Champigny Clos de l'Échelier offers aromas of blueberries, flowers, and dark wild berries. Medium-bodied, concentrated, and rich, it is lively and pure, with a crystalline texture and a chiseled, salty, and chalky finish. I believe it will improve further with a bit of bottle aging.

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

About the wine:

A refreshing burst of fruit in the Échelier, a sleek, mineral-driven expression.

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:

Medium to deep red. An intense, classically pure Cabernet Franc nose of dark red fruit and cedar—with a hint of herbaceous notes. Chalky tannins, wonderfully fresh, with an increasingly smooth texture. Pure, vibrant, and with a long life ahead of it, though you can enjoy its fruitiness right now.

Vinous

About the wine:

The Clos de L'Echelier 2021 is a delicate and soft wine with impressive fruit purity. It is almost ethereal in its lightness on the palate. As this is a 2021 vintage, there is no shortage of acidity, but it is fully integrated into the wine, providing a thread of tension that runs through the heart of the wine, allowing everything to come together on the precise finish. This is a harmonious and well-crafted example.