Domaine des Roches Neuves ‘Franc de Pied’ Cabernet Franc - Saumur-Champigny, Loire Valley, France
Pure, vivid and wonderfully precise, ‘Franc de Pied’ is one of Thierry Germain’s most distinctive Cabernet Francs, made from ungrafted vines growing on their own roots. It opens with lifted notes of violet, rose petal and small red berries including raspberry, redcurrant and cherry, alongside graphite, fresh herbs and a subtle chalky-mineral edge. The palate is crisp, juicy and finely etched, with bright acidity, delicate tannins and a sense of depth that feels more vertical than broad. There’s real energy here, but also elegance: a wine that feels alive, transparent and deeply connected to its sandy Saumur-Champigny soils.
The phrase “franc de pied” means the vines are ungrafted, planted on their own rootstock rather than grafted onto American rootstock after phylloxera. That is rare in Europe, and possible here because the sandy soils help protect the vines naturally. The vineyard is planted at very high density and worked according to organic and biodynamic principles, with horses used in the vineyard where machinery would be difficult. This gives the wine its unusual combination of delicacy, aromatic intensity and quiet concentration.
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Style: Red – Medium-bodied, fresh, mineral-driven, biodynamic
Drink Window: Now – 12+ years
Perfect For: Duck, roast chicken, lamb, mushroom dishes, Loire-style charcuterie
A rare and beautifully transparent Cabernet Franc - floral, mineral and quietly profound, showing Saumur-Champigny at its most elegant and alive.
