2018 Saumur-Champigny, Les Mémoires, Domaine des Roches Neuves, ThierryGermain, Loire
Critics reviews
Drink 2024 - 2045
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate (Oct 2021)
Drink 2022 - 2045
Jason Wilson, vinous.com (Jul 2020)
About this WINE
Domaine des Roches Neuves
Saumur-Champigny
The Saumur-Champigny wine region is located in the Loire Valley of France, specifically within the Anjou-Saumur area. It is renowned for producing high-quality red wines from Cabernet Franc and has held the prestigious designation of an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) since 1957.
Geographically, the region is situated on the banks of the Loire River, characterized by a diverse terroir that contributes to the unique characteristics of its wines. The vines benefit from a temperate climate influenced by the river, with warm summers and mild winters. The surrounding landscape features limestone slopes and a mix of clay, gravel, and sand soils, providing excellent drainage and ideal conditions for grape cultivation.
The dominant grape variety in Saumur-Champigny is Cabernet Franc, known locally as "Breton." It thrives in the region's terroir and produces red wines renowned for their elegance, finesse, and aromatic complexity. Cabernet Franc from Saumur-Champigny is typically characterized by its vibrant red fruit flavors, including raspberry, red currant, and cherry, along with herbal and floral notes such as violet and graphite.
Winemaking in Saumur-Champigny emphasizes the expression of the grape variety and the unique terroir. Vineyard practices include meticulous grape selection, manual harvesting, and sustainable viticultural techniques. Many producers are also adopting organic and biodynamic farming methods to enhance the quality and authenticity of the wines.
Saumur-Champigny wines are typically aged in various vessels, including stainless steel tanks, oak barrels, or a combination, depending on the winemaker's preferences. The aging process allows the wines to develop further complexity and refine their structure.
These red wines are celebrated for versatility, making them suitable for immediate consumption and aging, and they pair well with various dishes, including roasted meats, game, charcuterie, and cheeses.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is widely planted in Bordeaux and is the most important black grape grown in the Loire. In the Médoc it may constitute up to 15% of a typical vineyard - it is always blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and is used to add bouquet and complexity to the wines. It is more widely used in St.Emilion where it adapts well to the cooler and moister clay soils - Cheval Blanc is the most famous Cabernet Franc wine in the world, with the final blend consisting of up to 65% of the grape.
Cabernet Franc thrives in the Loire where the cooler growing conditions serve to accentuate the grape's herbaceous, grassy, lead pencil aromas. The best wines come from the tuffeaux limestone slopes of Chinon and Bourgeil where growers such as Jacky Blot produce intense well-structured wines that possess excellent cellaring potential.
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Description
The 2018 Saumur Champigny Les Mémoires is deep, bloody and spicy on the nose, with intense but tart fruit aromas of dark berries, tobacco and leather. Still fine but for now more brutish than the highly elegant 2019. On the palate, this is a smooth, refined and elegant, vital and refreshing Cabernet from 114-year-old vines. It is remarkably finessed but still a bit astringent and animally on the finish. I am also pretty sure that this 2018 will emerge as a great Loire red wine one day. The finish, with all its vitality, citrus freshness and silex nerviness, is superb and haughty, as is the perfectly ripe fruit and the silky tannins. Tasted in June 2021.
Drink 2024 - 2045
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate (Oct 2021)
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