Domaine des Roches Neuves ‘Les Mémoires’ Cabernet Franc - Saumur-Champigny, Loire Valley, France
Deep, precise and profoundly old-vine in character, ‘Les Mémoires’ is one of Thierry Germain’s great Cabernet Franc bottlings, drawn from vines planted in 1904. It opens with concentrated red and black fruit - forest strawberry, raspberry liqueur, plum and black cherry - layered with violet, mint, graphite, spice and a cool, stony mineral edge. The palate is powerful but finely cut, with vibrant acidity, polished tannins and a remarkable sense of verticality: intense and structured, yet never heavy. There’s a chalk-and-flint purity running through the finish, giving the wine both elegance and serious ageing potential.
Made from biodynamically farmed Cabernet Franc grown on crumbled flint over Late Turonian limestone, ‘Les Mémoires’ is all about preserving the voice of a remarkable old parcel. The cuvée name nods to the “memories” held by these century-old vines, and Germain’s hands-off cellar work allows that depth to come through without excess polish or weight. It’s Saumur-Champigny at its most refined: floral, mineral, concentrated and quietly profound.
Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc
Style: Red – Medium to full-bodied, structured, mineral-driven, biodynamic
Drink Window: Now – 15+ years
Perfect For: Duck, lamb, game birds, mushroom dishes, aged cheeses, cellar-worthy dinners
A benchmark Loire Cabernet Franc - old-vine, intensely mineral and built to reward patience, but already thrilling for anyone who loves precision over sheer power.
