Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves - Les Mémoires 2022 (vignes de 118 ans!)

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.

Made from a vineyard plot planted in 1904 overlooking the Loire River on flint soils with a limestone subsoil, the 2022 Saumur Champigny Les Mémoires evokes aromas of wild black fruits, blackcurrant, flowers, and spices. Medium-bodied, deep, and concentrated, it is elegantly full-bodied and silky, with a long, mineral-driven, resonant finish. It was fermented in open concrete tanks.

Les Mémoires combines dark aromas and a smoky, blood-like intensity with exceptional density. It is still very young, but its depth will allow it to develop a unique character among the great age-worthy Cabernet Francs.

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, much like La Marginale, whose vertical tasting held in April 2024 confirmed its aging potential.