Saumur Champigny Terres Chaudes Domaine Des Roches Neuves Saumur Champigny, 2022

Saumur Champigny Terres Chaudes 2022 from Domaine des Roches Neuves is a vibrant, terroir-driven Cabernet Franc that captures the finesse and energy of the Loire Valley. Sourced from carefully tended vineyards and crafted with a light hand, it offers a pure, precise expression of the grape with both immediate charm and underlying complexity. The “Terres Chaudes” cuvée has become a reference point for modern Saumur-Champigny, balancing drinkability with serious pedigree.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2022 Terres Chaudes shows a deep, shimmering ruby colour with violet reflections, hinting at both youth and concentration. The nose is lifted and expressive, with notes of ripe red and black cherries, wild raspberry, and crunchy redcurrant layered over floral tones of peony and violet. Subtle graphite, fresh tobacco leaf, and a touch of sweet spice add dimension without overpowering the fruit. On the palate, this Cabernet Franc is silky and precise, with a juicy core of red and black fruit framed by fine-grained, chalky tannins. There is a beautiful interplay between ripeness and freshness: ripe cherry, blackberry and plum are balanced by a cool, mineral backbone and mouth-watering acidity. Hints of pencil shavings, dried herbs, and a gentle savoury note emerge on the long, clean finish. While already accessible and enjoyable in its youth, the structure and tension suggest very good aging potential over the next 6–10 years, during which it will gain in complexity and aromatic nuance.

Production
Terres Chaudes comes from prime parcels in Saumur-Champigny planted on warm, well-exposed clay-limestone soils over the region’s famed tuffeau chalk, which lend both ripeness and a distinctive mineral edge. Domaine des Roches Neuves farms these vineyards organically and biodynamically, with careful attention to soil health and low yields to enhance concentration and purity. Grapes are picked by hand at optimal maturity, sorted meticulously, and vinified with a gentle, minimalist approach—often including a proportion of whole clusters, cool macerations, and fermentation in inert or large neutral vessels to preserve aromatic delicacy. Aging typically takes place in a mix of large oak vats and/or neutral barrels rather than new oak, ensuring that the focus remains firmly on fruit, freshness, and the expression of place.

Food & Serving
This Saumur-Champigny is a highly versatile food wine, pairing beautifully with roast chicken, grilled pork, veal chops, and lamb cutlets, as well as charcuterie, pâté, and hard or semi-hard cheeses like Comté, Tomme, or aged goat’s cheese. It also works wonderfully with earthy vegetable dishes—think roasted beetroot, lentil stews, mushroom tart, or ratatouille. Serve at 15–16°C (just slightly cool for a red) to highlight the wine’s freshness and precision. A short decant of 30–45 minutes is recommended in its youth to open up the aromatics and soften the tannins, though it can also be enjoyed pop-and-pour if given some time in the glass.

Producer
Domaine des Roches Neuves, led by renowned vigneron Thierry Germain, is one of the flagship estates of Saumur-Champigny and a benchmark for Cabernet Franc in the Loire Valley. Founded in the late 19th century and revitalised under Germain’s direction since the 1990s, the domaine has become synonymous with meticulous biodynamic farming and a purity-first winemaking philosophy. Working exclusively with estate vineyards on limestone-rich soils, Roches Neuves crafts wines that emphasise finesse, precision, and drinkability over sheer power. The estate is widely celebrated by sommeliers and critics alike for elevating the reputation of Saumur-Champigny on the world stage, with cuvées such as Terres Chaudes consistently praised for their balance, character, and sense of place.