Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Clos de L'Échelier 2013

Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Clos de L'Échelier comes from one of only four walled vineyards in the Saumur region.

The Clos de L'Échelier lies at Dampierre, close to the river and wedged between Saumur and the Clos Romans at Parnay. It is one of just four clos in the region enclosed by a wall, two of which Thierry Germain now owns; he had his eye on this limestone-rich site for the twenty years before he acquired it. The clos runs to a little under two hectares, mostly Cabernet Franc with about ten per cent Chenin Blanc, and the vines are now reaching forty years of age. Beneath them lies only a fifty-centimetre layer of argilo-calcaire over pure limestone. The fruit was fermented with fifty per cent whole bunches and the wine raised in twelve-hectolitre Stockinger cuves. It is the most compact and deep of Germain's Saumur-Champigny cuvées, with confit red fruit, succulent tannin, graphite and violet, and a fine mineral undertow.

Give it a decant and a few more years in bottle. Serve at 16°C with roast lamb, guinea fowl or a hard goat's cheese.

*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.