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

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:

Hailed from a vineyard plot planted in 1904 overlooking the Loire River on flinty 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.

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

About the wine:

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

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