Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur Blanc ‘l’Insolite’ 2021

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

Biodynamic. L’Insolite’s fruit comes from a special, densely planted 90-year-old vineyard (on clay, limestone, sandstone and flint soils), from two lieux-dits named Les Cerpes and Saint-Vincent in Saumur. Such depth and crystalline intensity can only come from a magical site and very low yields—18 hl/ha on average (yes that’s tiny).

The fruit arrived at the cellar in small cases where it went into a pneumatic press. The juice then underwent a slow natural fermentation in 1,200-litre Austrian (Stockinger) ovals and 600-litre casks (ex-Alphonse Mellot). The fermentation took about four months, after which the wine rested on fine lees, slowly building texture for another 12 months.

About Domaine des Roche Neuves

Founded in 1850 by the Duveau family, Domaine des Roches Neuves was taken up by Thierry and Marie Germain in 1991.

Spanning 12 hectares with Cabernet Franc at the time, the domain grew with 2 hectares of Chenin and 8 more hectares of Cabernet Franc in 1996.

The vineyard expanded with new plots in 2012: Clos de l’Echelier and Les Mémoires.

The winery completely converted all its operations for organic winegrowing in the late 1990s, then transitioned to biodynamic methods in the early 2000s.

Thierry and Marie

In 1991, Marie and Thierry fell in love with the Domaine des Roches Neuves.

Thierry had already spent his entire life in the wine world. Originally from Bordeaux, he is in the sixth generation of winemakers in his family.

Marie and Thierry’s journey is filled with memorable encounters with wine personalities who inspired them and led them to build their own viticulture vision and wine style.

Their philosophy very clearly focuses on the living, which inspires them to create inseparable ties with the grapevine, its soil, and even animals.

“Much of the finest Cabernet Franc from Saumur-Champigny is being now made by Thierry Germain at Domaine des Roches Neuves. The elegance, precision and purity of Germain’s Cabernet Franc is something else entirely, almost Burgundian.”

Jason Wilson, Vinous

In the Vineyard

Tuffeau limestone is one of the strengths of our terroir. This porous rock stores humidity that is redistributed during periods of intense drought.

The Loire River has its influence as well, with its tributary and Forest of Fontevraud contributing to create a true micro-climate.

Alternating chalky, sandy, and clay-rich soils represent a diversity of terroirs that offer infinite possibilities for the winery’s two grape varieties: Cabernet Franc and Chenin.

The vineyard is spread over 61 plots, covering 28 hectares with the Saumur Champigny appellation for its red wines, and Saumur for its white wines.

Biodynamics & respect for the living

Domaine des Roches Neuves has been using biodynamic methods to produce its wines since 2004. Thierry Germain fine-tuned the winery’s biodynamics to fully integrate the method and adapt it to his terroir, beliefs, and profound feelings.

Implemented with common sense and a positive intention, biodynamics completely and naturally matches the Domaine des Roches Neuves philosophy.

The biodynamic approach consists of understanding the plant, reading nature and guiding, assisting, and respecting it to the greatest extent possible, thus fostering soil life.

This is expressed by rolling grapevines, a continuous focus to achieve natural biodiversity rather than induced, and the partial use of animal traction.

In the Winery

Balance

Domaine des Roches Neuves seeks to balance the environment, nature, and the global relationship between people, vegetation, and animals. Balance is also a factor when finding the perfect symbiosis between each plot’s terroir and its grapevines. Constantly stiving for balance to determine the right maturity of grape skin that will preserve the vines’ natural minerality and tensions.

Sensitivity

The underlying emotional aspect is central for Domaine des Roches Neuves. We go where our senses take us in our approach to caring for grapevines, as well for winemaking. Listening to our feelings, we taste the fruit to determine harvest time. We accompany our wines to the ultimate balance while exploring different types of containers to bring out the fullest expression. With minimal handling, we listen to our wines to deliver authentic vintages that reveal the true identity of the variety, terroir, and winemaker.

Where in the World is Domaine des Roche Neuves?

Domaine des Roches Neuves is located in the heart of the Loire Valley, in the village of Varrains, 5 km from Saumur.