Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves : Clos Romans 2019

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for Clos Romans 2019 - Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a straw-yellow hue with golden highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals fine aromatic complexity, with notes of ripe white fruits—especially pear and apple—alongside floral nuances of acacia and white flowers. Mineral touches evoking wet stone and flint mingle with citrus aromas, notably lemon and grapefruit, as well as subtle hints of honey. With aeration, the bouquet gains additional herbaceous notes and a mineral graphite character.

Palate

On the palate, this Loire white wine charms with its remarkable balance of power and finesse. The attack is taut, driven by a bright acidity that gives structure to the whole. The texture is both rounded and precise, with notable concentration and a palpable density through the mid-palate. Flavors of white and exotic fruits intertwine with citrus notes, while the minerality brings definition and freshness. The finish, with exceptional persistence, highlights mineral and lemony dimensions with striking elegance.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Clos Romans 2019 pairs perfectly with delicate fish such as sea bass, cod, or turbot. It also elevates seafood platters, especially oysters and clams. Fish preparations with light cream sauces or beurre blanc make harmonious pairings. This wine also matches grilled vegetables or asparagus, as well as Asian cuisine with subtle spices featuring ginger and lemongrass.

Serving and Cellaring

Clos Romans 2019 can be enjoyed now, but it offers cellaring potential of at least ten years and can evolve well beyond that under optimal storage conditions. It is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C.

An exceptional biodynamic Chenin Blanc from the Saumur vineyard

The estate

The Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves traces its origins back to 1850 with the Duveau family. In 1992, Thierry Germain—born into a Bordeaux family of winegrowers for six generations—took over the management of this twelve-hectare estate located in Varrains, in Maine-et-Loire. Under his leadership, the estate gradually expanded to reach twenty-eight hectares today, spread across sixty-one parcels. Converted to organic farming in the late 1990s, then to biodynamics in the early 2000s, the estate is now recognized as a benchmark in the Loire. Thierry Germain was named Winemaker of the Year in 2011 by La Revue du Vin de France, which also awarded the estate a three-star distinction. His children, Louis and Jeanne, have joined the winery, carrying on the family commitment to demanding, respectful viticulture.

The vineyard

Clos Romans is a historic vineyard dating back to the 11th century, acquired by Thierry Germain in 2007. This two-and-a-half-hectare parcel, located in the commune of Souzay-Champigny within the Saumur appellation, is planted exclusively with Chenin Blanc. The soil is made up of around thirty centimeters of clay-sand over a Senonian limestone subsoil, with traces of reddened soils and siliceous sands. This distinctive soil profile, combined with the region’s characteristic tuffeau limestone, gives the wine its signature minerality. The vineyard benefits from a microclimate shaped by the Loire and the proximity of the Fontevraud forest. Vineyard management follows certified biodynamic principles, including the use of animal traction on certain plots.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage benefited from a warm, well-balanced growing season, allowing optimal grape ripening. The weather conditions supported the vines’ phenological development, resulting in beautifully ripe fruit while preserving the acidity and freshness that are characteristic of Chenin Blanc on these limestone Saumur terroirs.

Winemaking and aging

The Clos Romans 2019 harvest was carried out by hand, with rigorous selection of bunches at optimal ripeness. After a gradual pneumatic pressing, the must fermented for about a month in 400-liter oval barrels made of neutral French oak. This barrel shape helps keep the lees in suspension. The wine was then aged on fine lees for nine months in the same vessels, allowing for complex textural and aromatic development.

Grape variety

100% Chenin Blanc