2021 Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny, Loire Valley

The 2021 Domaine des Roches Neuves is made in a light bodied, delicate and fragrant style. The purity of fruit here is reminiscent of raspberries and blueberries. It’s a crunchy, fresh and lightly chalky style. Drink in its youth, lightly chilled.

89 points Rebecca Gibbs vinous.com

100% Cabernet Franc. Biodynamic.

Germain’s entry-point Saumur-Champigny is drawn from the Domaine’s younger Cabernet Franc vines, which grow on the tuffeau/limestone soils around the communes of Varrains, Chaintres and Saumur. The vines range in age from five to 70 years (with the average sitting around 25 years old) and include some parcels ploughed by Germain’s Ardennais draft horses, Ben and Comtesse. Harvesting is by hand, a cold soak infusion is employed on some parcels, and the wild yeast fermentation and élevage are now carried out only in tank. Aside from a minor 10 ppm SO2 at bottling, this is raised without any additions at all.