Roches Neuves Saumur Blanc Clos de l’Échelier 2022

Roches Neuves Saumur Blanc Clos de l'Échelier comes from 0.4 hectares of 60-year-old Chenin Blanc inside a two-hectare walled vineyard.

The clos lies at Dampierre-sur-Loire, on top of the limestone cliffs that run along this stretch of the river, and its wall was built around 300 years ago. Thierry Germain had his eye on the site from the time he arrived in Saumur more than two decades ago and was finally able to buy it in 2012. Much of the land is planted to Cabernet Franc, with Chenin Blanc gradually being added. The soils are sandy and shallow, with roughly 30 centimetres of argilo-calcaire over pure Turonian limestone, so yields are naturally meagre. Germain farms biodynamically and precisely. The combination gives a compact, old-vine white with rocky structure and a penetrating saline finish, and it makes the case for Saumur as one of France's more singular white wine terroirs.

Worth two or three years and capable of a decade. Serve at 10-12°C with roast pork belly, grilled crayfish or a mature comté.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.