Domaine des Roches Neuves - Thierry Germain

History of the domaine des Roches Neuves  

The history of the domaine des Roches Neuves begins in 1850, under the aegis of the Duveau family, deeply rooted in the Saumur region. At its origins, the vineyard covered 12 hectares of Cabernet Franc, the king grape variety of the Saumur-Champigny appellation. It was not until the mid-1980s that the estate took a decisive turn with Denis Duveau, trained in oenology in Bordeaux. Inspired by figures such as Charlie Foucault of Clos Rougeard, he created "La Marginale", a bold cuvée distinguished by its pronounced aging, winning over great Parisian restaurateurs and laying the foundations for a national reputation.  

In 1991, Denis Duveau sold the domaine de to pursue his winemaking adventure in Chile. The vineyard then came under the management of the Union Française de Gestion, which entrusted it to Thierry and Marie Germain through a 20-year farming lease. Thierry, descended from a lineage of Bordeaux winemakers — sixth generation and son of Bernard Germain, former owner of Château de Fesles — brought with him an ambitious vision. Despite a devastating frost that year, the couple rose to the challenge with passion. In 1996, they enriched the estate with 8 hectares of Cabernet Franc and 2 hectares of Chenin, before converting the vines to organic farming at the end of the 1990s, then to biodynamics in the early 2000s.  

In 2012, having become owners of the land, Thierry and Marie further expanded the vineyard with the acquisition of prestigious plots such as Clos de l'Échelier and Les Mémoires. Their children, Louis and Jeanne, joined the venture: Louis in 2020, drawing on his experience in biodynamics in New Zealand, and Jeanne from 2018, taking charge of horse-drawn work across 4 hectares. Today, the domaine des Roches Neuves shines among the stars of the Loire Valley, driven by a philosophy resolutely oriented toward living viticulture.

Terroirs and Vines of the domaine des Roches Neuves  

The domaine des Roches Neuves owes its excellence to the richness of its terroir, dominated by tuffeau limestone, a porous rock typical of the Saumur region. This unique subsoil stores moisture and releases it to the vines during periods of drought, ensuring grapes of exceptional quality. Added to this is a privileged microclimate, influenced by the Loire, its tributaries, and the Fontevraud forest, which moderates climatic variations. The soils, of great diversity — chalky, sandy, or clayey — offer an infinite palette of expressions for the two emblematic grape varieties of the estate: Cabernet Franc for the reds and Chenin for the whites.  

Spread across 61 plots and 28 hectares, the vineyard has been managed using biodynamics since 2004, an approach refined by Thierry Germain to bring out the best in each terroir. Practices include coiling the vines rather than trimming them, naturally encouraged biodiversity, and the partial use of animal traction with horses Ben and Comtesse, managed by Jeanne. Historic plots such as Les Mémoires, planted in 1904, or Clos Romans, replanted at high density with 10,000 plants per hectare, bear witness to this quest for harmony between plant, soil, and environment. This mosaic of terroirs gives the wines a distinctive identity, combining freshness, minerality, and complexity.

Winemaking at the domaine des Roches Neuves  

At the domaine des Roches Neuves, winemaking is an art that combines precision and respect for the fruit. The entirely renovated winery enables plot-by-plot, temperature-controlled vinifications tailored to each terroir. Harvests, carried out by hand at full ripeness, are guided by berry tasting to ensure optimal balance. Fermentations rely on indigenous yeasts, with whole clusters and short macerations (8 to 10 days, compared to 30 in the past) to limit extraction and prioritize finesse.  

Aging, meanwhile, varies by cuvée: stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness, large oak barrels or barriques for more complex wines, and even Georgian or Italian amphorae for unique expressions such as Outre Terre or Terres. Sulfur is used sparingly (20 mg/l after malolactic fermentation), and vacuum bottling ensures impeccable purity. This minimalist approach, combined with constant attention to sensory perception, reveals vibrant wines that are true to their terroir and to Thierry Germain's contemporary style.

The Cuvées of the domaine des Roches Neuves  

Saumur-Champigny Red Wines (Cabernet Franc)  

Cuvée Domaine 

A bright ruby red with aromas of red fruits, fresh and airy on the palate with a beautiful acidity. Sourced from clay-limestone terroirs, it is vinified in stainless steel tanks (16–22°C) and aged on fine lees without sulfur.  

Terres Chaudes 

Deep ruby color, complex nose of red fruits, flowers, and spices, supple palate with eucalyptus notes. Aged one year in a conical tank on fine lees, this wine comes from clay-sandy limestone soils (yield 45 hl/ha).  

La Marginale 

Powerful and spiced, with a deep ruby color and a mentholated nose, it offers a rich finish. Born from south-facing Turonian clay-limestone soils (35 hl/ha), it matures for 12 months in large oak barrels.  

Clos de l'Échelier 

Elegant, with a bright ruby color, a cherry nose, and a full palate, it comes from a superior Turonian terroir and is vinified in a Stoeckinger conical tank (16–24°C).  

Les Mémoires 

Sensual and mineral, this cuvée with a mentholated nose comes from century-old vines (1904) on flint and limestone scree, fermented in an open concrete tank.  

Outre Terre 

Floral (peony) and full-bodied, vinified for 4 months in a Georgian amphora without sulfur or filtration, it rests on a sandy limestone terroir.  

Franc de Pied 

Crunchy and juicy, with a bright ruby color, it comes from dense vines (10,000 plants/ha) on sandy soils, worked with horses and fermented in an oval tank.  

Saumur White Wines (Chenin)  

L'Échelier 

Crystalline straw-yellow color, fruity and floral nose, powerful and mineral palate. Sourced from a superior Turonian terroir, worked by hand, fermented in oval barriques, and aged for 9 months on lees.  

Clos Romans  

Complex and luminous, with aromas of white fruits and citrus, this wine comes from a Senonian clay-limestone terroir, worked with horses, fermented in barriques, and aged for 9 months on lees.  

Terres 

An orange wine with a golden straw-yellow color, a fresh and mineral nose, and a round palate with citrus notes. Sourced from flint over limestone, it macerates for 4 months in an Italian amphora without sulfur or filtration.  

If the domaine des Roches Neuves has won you over with its excellence and authenticity, the Saumur region abounds with other viticultural treasures to explore. Estates such as Clos Rougeard, the mythical reference of Saumur-Champigny, or the Domaine du Collier, with its remarkably pure Chenins, are well worth a visit. Antoine Sanzay and Guiberteau shine for their artisanal approach, while La Porte Saint Jean and Clos de l'Écotard offer unique expressions of the terroir. Not to mention Vieux Pressoir and Xavier Caillard, who complete this mosaic of talents. Set out to discover these gems and let yourself be enchanted by the diversity of Saumur wines!

The domaine des Roches Neuves, driven by the vision of Thierry and Marie Germain, embodies the excellence of the Loire Valley. With its 28 hectares cultivated in biodynamics, its exceptional terroirs, and its precise winemaking, it produces red and white wines of rare authenticity, blending freshness, tension, and emotion. The cuvées, from the fruity Cuvée Domaine to the intense La Marginale, including vibrant whites such as Clos Romans, captivate enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike. Joined by Louis and Jeanne, the estate is part of a family-driven dynamic oriented toward the future, while honoring its heritage.