Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny La Marginale 2018

Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny La Marginale is Thierry Germain’s old-vine Cabernet Franc, drawn from limestone parcels including a plot in Les Poyeux.

Saumur-Champigny sits on the left bank of the Loire east of Saumur, on Turonian limestone — the soft white tuffeau quarried for the châteaux of the region — and Cabernet Franc is the sole significant red variety. Germain farms biodynamically at Varrains and has done more than most to move Saumur reds away from the herbal, hard-edged style once associated with them. Marginale blends parcels on the limestone of the Fossés de Chaintre, in the lieux-dits Les Dares and Clos Maurice, with a small plot of old vines on Turonian limestone in Les Poyeux, one of the appellation’s best-known sites. These are the estate’s oldest and lowest-yielding Cabernet Franc vines apart from Les Mémoires. The wine was raised for twelve months in a 25-hectolitre Stockinger foudre, erected in the cellar by Franz Stockinger himself, then finished in three-year-old Burgundian barrels. Maceration has been shortened since 2013.

Drinking now and capable of ten to fifteen years. Serve at 16-18°C with roast lamb, duck breast or grilled eggplant.

*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.