The 2022 Thierry Germain Saumur-Champigny Les Roches is a beautifully vibrant and terroir-driven Cabernet Franc from one of the Loire Valley’s benchmark biodynamic producers. Produced under Thierry Germain’s Roches Neuves project, the wine is crafted from organically farmed vineyards around Saumur-Champigny planted on chalk-rich clay and tuffeau limestone soils. Unlike the domaine’s more structured single-vineyard bottlings, Les Roches is designed to emphasise purity, freshness and drinkability while still carrying the unmistakable mineral tension and finesse that define Germain’s wines. Fermented naturally and aged in large old foudres, the 2022 vintage combines generous fruit with remarkable lift and precision.
The nose reveals blackberry, cassis and wild raspberry layered alongside violets, graphite and cracked pepper, giving the wine remarkable aromatic freshness and Loire character. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with silky tannins, vibrant natural acidity and a finely etched mineral core. Layers of dark berry fruit, savoury herbs and chalky tension unfold with beautiful energy and balance, finishing long, juicy and beautifully persistent with impressive purity and drinkability. Critics and merchants consistently highlight the wine’s pepper-tinged fruit, saline freshness and supple texture, noting its seamless balance between concentration and elegance.
Ben’s Recommendation:
The 2022 Thierry Germain Saumur-Champigny Les Roches is a superb modern Loire Cabernet Franc — vibrant, mineral and beautifully refined with outstanding freshness and finesse. Perfect with roast chicken, duck, charcuterie, grilled lamb, mushroom dishes or alpine cheeses. Enjoy now with decanting or cellar comfortably through 2034+.
