Domaine des Roches Neuves Samur ‘Clos Romans’ 2018

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

The Chenin Blanc vines of Clos Romans are rooted in the walled enclave of a priory dating back to the 11th century. The soil consists of a 30cm layer of sandy clay over Senonian-era limestone bedrock called Pierres de Champigny, the same rock that was used to build Château Champigny. Planted atop a ridge in Parnay, just outside Saumur, the vine roots burrow down through the limestone, towards the famous troglodyte dwellings below. Germain acquired this historic site in 2007 and has been steadily replanting at a density of 12,000 vines per hectare. He practices massale selection, mixing plants to ensure he doesn’t get a mono-dimensional profile of this terroir.

Terroir

Clay-limestone, 30 cm of clay-rich sand before reaching the Senonian limestone layer.

Vine care

Clay-limestone, 30 cm of clay-rich sand before reaching the Senonian limestone layer.
Massal selection.

Vinification

Manual harvest.
Alcohol fermentation in 400 and 600 liter barrels.
Pneumatic pressing for 4 hours; natural strength of 12.9°; duration of fermentation 2 months.
Aged on fine lees for 9 months.

All operations are carried out at low temperatures in an underground cellar to preserve the wine’s fruitiness.

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.