“The range of wines from Domaine des Roches Neuves has the transparency, delicacy and ease you encounter too infrequently.” – Rebecca Gibb, Vinous
"A dazzling array of flawless quality...the range is now irreproachable" - La Revue de Vins du France
Vigneron Thierry Germain of Domaine des Roches Neuves grew up in a family of winemakers in Bordeaux, but instead of following in their footsteps, he switched St Emilion’s limestone soils for those of the Loire Valley. Taking on Domaine des Roches Neuves in the heart of Saumur Champigny in the early 90s, he soon fell under the influence of Charly Foucault, co-owner of acclaimed producer Clos Rougeard.
Whilst early releases under the Roches Neuves label verged on being over-oaked and extracted, Germain blossomed under Foucault’s tutelage, with the wines transforming into impressively streamlined examples of purity and site expression within just a few vintages. Quality looks to have come on even further since. In October 2021, The Wine Advocate’s Stephen Reinhardt writes of “an impressive series of beautiful Cabernet Francs and Chenin Blancs of this exceptional producer”, going on to note how “the wines have become even finer and fresher in recent years.”
We have recently listed a sharply priced small mixed parcel of two of their single vineyard Chenins and Cabernet Francs across vintages 2019, 2020 and 2021. Of the Chenins ‘Clos Romans’ and ‘L’Echelier’, you can expect pin-sharp aromatics and crisp precision on the palate – the style that gains weight in the mouth without any hint of excess richness and pristine acidity. They need time to show at their best. Whilst of the Cabernet Francs ‘Marginale’ and ‘Clos de L’Echelier’, Vinous’ Jason Wilson writes how “the elegance, precision and purity is something else entirely, almost Burgundian.”
