{"product_id":"domaine-des-roches-neuves-franc-de-pied-saumur-champigny-bio-2022","title":"Domaine des Roches Neuves Franc de Pied Saumur Champigny Bio 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eDomaine des Roches Neuves Franc de Pied Saumur Champigny Bio 2022 is a rare, characterful Loire red crafted from ungrafted Cabernet Franc vines – a true purist’s expression of Saumur-Champigny. This cuvée comes from roughly 40-year-old, own-rooted vines planted at high density on limestone- and sand-rich soils southeast of Saumur, giving the wine both lift and tension. Certified organic and made with minimal intervention, it offers a strikingly refined, almost Burgundian take on Cabernet Franc that has become one of the benchmarks of the appellation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 2022 Franc de Pied shows a luminous, medium ruby color with a vibrant edge that hints at its freshness and finesse. The nose opens with dark forest berries – think blackberry and wild blueberry – layered with notes of kumquat zest, violets, and a subtle touch of freshly ground black pepper. With air, delicate floral tones and a chalky, mineral impression become increasingly pronounced.\n\nOn the palate, the wine is precise, juicy, and wonderfully linear, with a cool, flowing texture that recalls top-quality red Burgundy more than a stereotypically rustic Loire red. The fruit profile is delicately sweet-tinged yet impeccably dry, featuring ripe black and red berries carried by a fine, mouthwatering acidity. Ultra-fine, feathery tannins give gentle grip without any hardness, leading into a long, mineral, almost crystalline finish. Already charming in its youth, the 2022 has the structure and balance to evolve beautifully over the next 8–12 years, gaining further depth and complexity with a few years in the cellar.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Franc de Pied parcel lies on a terroir dominated by limestone with a significant proportion of sand, a combination that imparts both aromatic precision and a cool, airy texture to the wine. The ungrafted Cabernet Franc vines, around 40 years old, are planted at high density, naturally limiting yields and concentrating flavor. Harvesting is done by hand with strict selection in the vineyard to ensure only perfectly ripe, healthy grapes are used. The bunches are fermented with their stems, undergoing spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in concrete tanks, preserving vineyard character and purity of fruit. The wine is then aged for about 12 months in large 1,200-liter wooden casks, which provide gentle oxygenation without overt oak flavor, before being bottled unfined and unfiltered to maintain maximum texture, depth, and authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis refined Saumur-Champigny is an excellent partner for elegant, nuanced dishes rather than heavy, overpowering fare. It pairs beautifully with roast chicken with herbs, veal or pork tenderloin, duck breast, and dishes featuring mushrooms or root vegetables. Loire-style charcuterie, pâtés, and semi-soft cheeses such as Tomme, Reblochon, or mild goat cheeses also work particularly well, as do subtly spiced vegetable dishes and lentil-based plates. Serve at 14–16°C (57–61°F) to highlight its freshness and floral aromatics. Younger bottles benefit from a gentle splash-decant of 30–60 minutes to allow the wine to unfurl its mineral and floral complexity; for older vintages, a brief, careful decant just to remove sediment is sufficient.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThierry Germain has transformed Domaine des Roches Neuves into one of the leading estates in the Loire and a reference point for Cabernet Franc in Saumur-Champigny. Originally from Bordeaux, Germain took over the estate in the early 1990s and gradually converted it to organic and then biodynamic farming, placing terroir expression and vineyard health at the core of his philosophy. Today, the domaine is renowned for its precise, pure, and finely etched wines that emphasize freshness, drinkability, and finesse over power. Cuvées like Franc de Pied have helped cement the estate’s reputation for producing some of the most articulate, terroir-driven expressions of Cabernet Franc in the region, earning consistent acclaim from critics and sommeliers around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54252489605457,"sku":"VC-9738","price":45.06,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/bild_domaine_des_roches_neuves_franc_de_pied_saumur_champigny_bio_2022_1280x1280_28e199d0-2611-46b5-b9b5-b15da0340abf.jpg?v=1783444860","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/domaine-des-roches-neuves-franc-de-pied-saumur-champigny-bio-2022","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}