Synopsis, Our Opinion: It goes near the top of our favorite Loire
Valley Cabernet Franc tasting list.
Producer/Winery: Thierry Germain; Domaine des Roches Neuves; Varrains, France.
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc.
Geographic Appellation, Region, Country: Saumur-Champigny; Anjou-Saumur; Loire Valley, France.
Vintage: 2015
Price: $50.40 (with a 10% mixed case discount)
Purchased From: The Caviste Wine Shop; Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Paired With: Pork tenderloin with Madeira sauce, hasselback potatoes and green beans.
Tasting:
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Opened one hour before drinking. Clear, ruby color with just a slight purple tint and a slightly lighter rim. Bell pepper, musty wet gravel and raspberry aromas. Silky smooth entry, dry and a filling mouthfeel, medium to full body and a 80-grit texture. Robust brambly fruit…raspberries and blackberries, sweet tobacco and banana pepper flavors. Significant acidity, sleepy yet somewhat crunchy tannins followed by a long finish with a mix of fruit, tannins and peppery spice tastes. A very refined cab franc that combines what we found in the Thierry Germain des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny La Marginale 2015 with a more open and robust character. This was more dominated with acidity, didn’t have the powerful aromatics we expected and lacked the impressive richness of the La Marginale, but were really splitting hairs here!!! Loire Valley Cab Franc is probably our favorite varietal wine and this was really an outstanding example. In fact we said it goes near the top of our favorite Loire Valley Cabernet Franc tasting list.
Photo from Kermit Lynch.
See our reviews of other Domaine des Roches Neuves wines.
Alcohol Content: 13%
Closure: Aluminum covered 50mm natural cork.
UPC Code: 7 61503 43343 5
Imported by: Kermit lynch Wine Merchant; Berkeley, California.