Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves : Outre Terre 2020

Tasting Characteristics and Advice for Outre Terre 2020 by Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a bright ruby-red hue.

Nose

The nose is fresh and delicate, revealing aromas of red fruit such as raspberry and cherry. Floral notes of peony and rose intertwine harmoniously, alongside hints of bitter orange, cedar and juniper. This complex aromatic range reflects the wine’s elegance and finesse.

Palate

The entry on the palate is broad and generous, revealing a silky texture carried by refined tannins. The palate shows a fine tension between richness and restraint, with lively acidity that brings freshness. The finish lingers with elegance, unveiling pleasant bitter notes and a remarkable finesse that persists at length.

Food and Wine Pairing

This wine pairs perfectly with dishes featuring wild mushrooms and garlic, white beans with herbs, or roasted white meats. It also goes very well with fine charcuterie and aged cheeses such as Comté or other hard cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring

Outre Terre 2020 can be enjoyed now, while offering aging potential through around 2030, during which it will continue to develop its aromatic complexity.

A Loire Cabernet Franc vinified in a Georgian amphora

The Estate

Founded in 1850 by the Duveau family, the Domaine des Roches Neuves now spans 28 hectares across 61 plots in the Saumur-Champigny appellation, in the Loire Valley. Thierry Germain, a sixth-generation winegrower originally from Bordeaux, took over the estate in 1992. A pioneer of biodynamics in the region, he converted the entire vineyard to this farming method. Today, the estate is recognized as one of the Loire Valley’s essential benchmarks for Cabernet Francs of remarkable purity and finesse. His children, Louis and Jeanne, are now actively involved in the life of the estate.

The Vineyard

Outre Terre comes from a small 0.6-hectare plot planted with Cabernet Franc vines around twenty years old. The vines are rooted in clay-limestone soils characteristic of the Saumur-Champigny appellation. The terroir benefits from a particularly warm, dry microclimate, considered one of the most favorable in the Loire Valley. Proximity to the Fontevraud forest and the Loire River helps create ideal climatic conditions for Cabernet Franc ripening. The vineyard is farmed under certified biodynamics, with respectful practices including horse plowing on certain plots.

The Vintage

The 2020 vintage is defined by a harmonious balance between ripeness and freshness. That year’s climatic conditions made it possible to obtain grapes with fine natural acidity and vibrant fruit aromas, without excessive ripeness. This vintage responded particularly well to the minimally interventionist winemaking methods practiced at the estate.

Vinification and Aging

Outre Terre 2020 stands out for its experimental vinification in an 800-liter Georgian amphora. After hand-harvesting, the grapes are fully destemmed and then placed in the amphora for spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. No pump-overs or punching down are carried out during fermentation, which continues for around eight months in the amphora. The wine is then transferred to barrels for an additional twelve months of aging. This cuvée is bottled without fining or filtration, thus respecting a natural approach to winemaking.

Grape variety

100% Cabernet Franc