Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves - La Marginale 2022

Bettane & Desseauve

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 on clay-limestone soils, the 2022 Saumur Champigny La Marginale, aged for one year in 25-hectoliter casks, reveals a delicate, deep bouquet of menthol, rose, peony, and leafy notes. Medium-bodied, layered, and textured, it offers a vertical sensation with good depth and powdery tannins, finishing with a long, ethereal aftertaste. More austere than the 2021, it needs time to integrate its aging.

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

About the wine:

As always, La Marginale reveals itself with a sunnier character. Full-bodied and enveloping, it retains its invigorating energy. It will age gracefully over the next thirty years.

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.

Vinous

About the wine:

The Marginale 2022 is a round, full-bodied, and inviting wine. The clay soils give it velvety tannins, like melted chocolate, reminiscent of a fine Pomerol. Of course, this is a Cabernet Franc from the Loire, with floral aromas of blackberries and raspberries. It is pure, elegant, and finely textured, with a powdery mouthfeel and a long, fragrant finish reminiscent of black tea, iron (blood), and blackberries.