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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Thierry Germain has made his estate a benchmark for biodynamic viticulture and great Loire wines, while successfully passing on his passion to his children Jeanne and Louis, who now work with him. The wines are dense and full of energy, showcasing the magnificent limestone terroirs of the saumur-champigny appellation, particularly the Clos Romans and Clos de L'Echelier parcel cuvées. Low yields give good concentration to the long, silky reds.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

From a parcel of vines planted in 1904 facing the Loire on flinty soils with a limestone subsoil, Saumur Champigny Les Mémoires 2022 evokes aromas of wild black fruits, blackcurrants, flowers and spices. Medium-bodied, deep and concentrated, it is elegantly fleshy and satiny, with a long, mineral, resonant finish. Fermented in open concrete tanks.

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

About the wine:

Les Mémoires combines dark, smoky, sanguine aromas with superior density. It's still very young, and its depth will enable it to make its mark in the world of great Cabernet Franc for laying down.

About the domain :

The charismatic Thierry Germain has defined a singular stylistic approach to Saumur-Champigny and Saumur whites. The extensive work undertaken in the vines (biodynamic, some ploughed with a horse) is evident right from the estate's first cuvée. The latest white vintages reveal a remarkable saline brilliance, getting to the heart of the chalky expression of chenin on tuffeau. They thrill the taste buds and the body! The quest for a crisp, chiselled edge is undeniable in the reds, which can have a ravishing florality. However, we are convinced that they could reveal a more velvety, graceful and ripe balance of Loire Cabernet Franc, in the manner of La Marginale, whose vertical test in April 2024 confirmed its ageing potential.

Vinous