Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Franc de Pied 2022

Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Franc de Pied is made from ungrafted, own-rooted Cabernet Franc, first bottled in 2008.

Saumur-Champigny lies on the left bank of the Loire east of Saumur, where Cabernet Franc grows on limestone and, closer to the river, on sand. Thierry Germain farms biodynamically at Domaine des Roches Neuves, and this cuvée comes from two tiny sandy parcels near the water, established with two thousand massal-selection cuttings taken from Bernard Baudry's own-rooted vines. Sandy soils are inhospitable to phylloxera, which is what makes ungrafted planting possible. The vines are trained on single stakes in the échalas manner at a density of ten thousand per hectare and the ground is worked by horse, giving the domaine's lowest yields and its lowest-alcohol red. It is the only Germain red fermented with whole bunches, 30 per cent in this case, then raised for twelve months in older twelve-hectolitre casks.

Delicate and open early, and good for five to eight years. Decant, and serve at 16-18°C with roast pork, grilled quail or 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.