Thierry Germain - Domaine des Roches Neuves : Le Clos du Moulin 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for Saumur "Le Clos du Moulin" 2023

Tasting notes

Colour
The colour reveals a light to medium pale straw yellow hue, enhanced by delicate green highlights and beautiful brightness.

Nose
Of great purity, the nose accurately expresses aromas of stone fruits such as peach and pear, mingled with citrus notes. Subtle floral touches reminiscent of jasmine, honeysuckle and linden blossom, along with light herbal nuances, perfect this bouquet.

Palate
The attack is direct and honest, carried by a lovely tension and a structuring acidity. The mid-palate, with its full and velvety texture, reveals a beautiful fruity concentration perfectly balanced by a chalky minerality. The remarkably long finish lingers on saline notes, citrus, bergamot and eucalyptus.

Food and wine pairing

This white wine pairs wonderfully with seafood, grilled fish or sole meunière. It also elegantly accompanies white meats such as roast poultry, as well as spring vegetables or fresh goat cheese.

Service and storage

For optimal enjoyment of this 2023 vintage, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C, ideally in a tulip-shaped glass, after brief aeration. This wine can be enjoyed young, but its structure allows it to age favourably in the cellar, drinking well until around 2043.

Other characteristics

This wine has a moderate alcohol content of 13%.

The pure, mineral expression of a great white wine from the Loire Valley

The estate

Founded in 1850 by the Duveau family, the estate was taken over in 1991 by Thierry and Marie Germain. Located in France in the Loire Valley, this estate now spans 28 hectares. A pioneer and visionary, the current owner, Thierry Germain, supported by his children, has raised the estate to the very top thanks to a farming philosophy rooted in respect for living things. Domaine des Roches Neuves has thus become an essential reference, renowned for its remarkably precise parcel-specific cuvées.

The vineyard

The "Le Clos du Moulin" cuvée comes from a roughly one-hectare plot located in the commune of Parnay, within the Saumur appellation. The vines, with an average age of 80 years, thrive on clay-limestone soils made up of a sandy-clay layer resting on a limestone bedrock. The proximity of the river provides an ideal microclimate, encouraging slow, balanced ripening of the berries. The vineyard is cultivated using environmentally friendly methods, with hand-harvesting and meticulous vine-by-vine selection.

The vintage

2023 benefited from very favourable weather conditions in the region. Adequate rainfall came to balance out the periods of summer heat, allowing the grapes to reach optimal ripeness without excessive concentration.

Winemaking and aging

For this cuvée, fermentation takes place using indigenous yeasts in large-format wooden vessels, with rigorous temperature control. The wine is then aged on fine lees in older wooden barrels or vats for 8 to 12 months, preserving the full expression of its terroir.

Grape variety

100% Chenin Blanc.