2019 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny, Loire Valley

2019 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny, Loire Valley

2019 Gerard Boulay Sancerre Rosé Sibylle, Loire Valley

2019 Gerard Boulay Sancerre Rosé Sibylle, Loire Valley

2019 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny La Marginale, Loire Valley

A$108.07
Availability: Out of stock
SKU
B19238V19
93

100% Cabernet Franc. Biodynamic.

Marginale is Germain’s old-vine blend, drawn from parcels on the clay/limestone soils of Fossés de Chaintre (in the lieux-dits of les Dares and Clos Maurice) and from a small parcel of old vines on Turonian limestone in the famous Les Poyeux. Made from some of the Estate’s oldest and lowest-yielding Cabernet Franc vines, perhaps more than any other red Marginale encapsulates the Germain style: profound elegance and soaring intensity. It was at these sites that Germain began rolling his vines, instead of cutting. To cut a long story short, the fruit now ripens earlier giving the requisite maturity without loss of acidity. So today, the wines have all the vibrancy, purity and freshness that we expect of this unique place, but there is matching flesh, opulence and seduction.

La Marginale is raised in a large, round 25-hectolitre foudre (that had to be erected in the Roches Neuves cellars by Franz Stockinger himself) for 12 months before finishing in three-year-old Burgundian barrels. Since 2013, Germain has employed a shorter maceration, so there are only a few pump-overs to keep the cap wet. The resulting wines have been even more balanced, with the kind of finesse and precision of fruit that is rarely found outside Burgundy. Germain’s 2019 is the most beguiling example we have shipped.
This new release features perfectly ripened dark cherry and blackberry fruit alongside a gentle, floral leafiness and a little sandalwood spice. The wine comes into its own even more on the palate, which flows like pure silk, marked by a gorgeous, elegant texture that dances across the tongue. The finish is quasi-Burgundian in its length and detail. If you don’t (yet) believe the best of Saumur can rival great young Burgundy, get a load of this.
 Whereas Terres Chaudes is limestone, this cuvée comes from clay, the soils five metres deep, the limestone beneath buried well. Again I am taken by the fresh character in what was a warm vintage, with dark and fragrant fruits especially damsons, peonies, violets and pencil shavings. This leads to a delightfully elegant poise on the palate, a medium-bodied presence but with a firm central core of tannic grip and fresh acidity too. It feels structured, firm, poised and upright, with great restraint running into a long grip of ripe tannins. This has excellent potential.

93-95 points Chris Kissack thewiinedoctor.com

More Information
Product/Service Sold Out Yes
En Primeur No
New Arrivals No
Wine Type Red Wine
Wine Style Biodynamic
Country France
Region Middle Loire, Saumur
Varietals Cabernet Franc
Vintage 2019
Bottle Size 750ml
Wine Points 93-95
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