Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves : Terres 2018

Tasting characteristics and advice for Terres 2018 from Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves

Tasting

Appearance

The color shows a deep golden yellow hue with orange highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals lovely minerality alongside citrus aromas, notably orange peel and lemon. Notes of yellow fruit complete this complex, expressive bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, this wine charms with its roundness and breadth, balanced by vibrant acidity and remarkable mineral tension. Subtle tannins emerge on the finish, bringing structure and character to the whole. The balance between richness, freshness, and minerality delivers a complex, persistent tasting experience.

Food and wine pairings

This distinctive white wine is an ideal match for bluefin tuna tartare. It also pairs beautifully with fish, seafood, shellfish, and fresh goat cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Terres 2018 can be enjoyed now to appreciate its aromatic complexity.

A delicate and precise Loire white wine

The estate

Founded in 1850 by the Duveau family, the Domaine des Roches Neuves was taken over in 1992 by Thierry Germain, a young winemaker from Bordeaux. Based in Varrains in the Saumurois, the estate now spans 28 hectares across 61 parcels. Converted to biodynamics in the early 2000s and certified Biodyvin, it is now run by Thierry Germain alongside his children and his wife, Marie. The estate has established itself as an essential reference in the qualitative revival of the Saumur vineyard, internationally recognized for wines expressing finesse, minerality, and purity of fruit.

The vineyard

This Terres 2018 comes from Chenin Blanc vines around 90 years old, located in the lieux-dits Les Cerpes and Saint-Vincent in the commune of Saumur. These old vines cover 0.6 hectare and grow on the famed tuffeau limestone, a porous rock typical of the region. This geological signature gives the wine its intense minerality and remarkable tension. Farmed under certified biodynamics, the vineyard benefits from the particularly warm microclimate of the Saumurois, encouraging optimal grape ripening.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage in the Saumurois is characterized by relatively normal climatic conditions, without any particularly notable exceptional features. This context highlights the importance of biodynamic vineyard management and precise winemaking choices in crafting this Loire wine recognized for its quality.

Winemaking and aging

Terres 2018 is made using a radical, experimental approach. After hand-harvesting into crates, the Chenin Blanc grapes are fermented and macerated on their skins for eight months in 400-liter Italian amphorae, with no added yeasts. This extended maceration gives the wine its signature orange hue and tannic structure. The wine is then transferred to wooden barrels for an additional twelve months of aging. The wine is neither filtered nor fined, thus preserving all of its natural complexity.

Grape variety

100% Chenin Blanc