Saumur Champigny Domaine des Roches Neuves 2023

The Saumur Champigny Domaine des Roches Neuves is a red wine that originates in the heart of France, in the beautiful region of the Loire Valley. It is a label made with pure Cabernet Franc, the most cultivated red grape variety in the Saumur area, where it has thrived for centuries, thanks to soils well-suited to a climate particularly suitable for its ripening needs. The brief aging in wood allows one to appreciate the elegant aromatic spectrum of Cabernet Franc in all its classic varietal typicity.

This Saumur-Champigny comes to life in the territory of Varrains, home to the ancient Domaine des Roches Neuves, whose origins date back to the mid-nineteenth century. The Saumur area is particularly suited for viticulture, due to the presence of soils rich in limestone and tuff and a climate moderated by the influence of the Loire, which acts as a natural temperature regulator. The Cabernet Franc has found a second homeland here. While in Bordeaux it is generally used in a minor role in wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, here it takes on the role of undisputed protagonist, with interesting vinifications in purity. The grapes are hand-harvested and fermentation takes place at controlled temperature using only indigenous yeasts. The wine matures for 4 months in steel tanks and oak barrels before being bottled.

The Saumur Champigny wine allows one to discover the truest and sincerest face of a great grape variety like Cabernet Franc. The oldest among the Bordeaux varieties, most likely originating from the area bordering the Basque Country, the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère. The color is intense and bright ruby red. The olfactory profile opens with aromas of blueberries, currants, and small forest fruits, hints of medicinal herbs, and balsamic nuances. On the palate, it is elegant, with a sip of good aromatic richness, supported by a well-integrated tannic texture and characterized by a finish of clear mineral freshness.