2018 - Saumur-Champigny Clos de l'Echelier, Thierry Germain (Roches Neuves)

Dark, brooding, muscular style. From 40-year-old vines surrounded by a 300-year-old wall. Aged 12 months in 12-hectoliter barrels. The nose is full of dark mineral aromas – asphalt, struck stone, smoke – along with lovely notes of rose. Expansive on the palate, featuring an attractive, rich bloodiness in the mouth, with lots of black fruit and pepper. Very intense on the finish. Incredible wine that walks that thrilling line of rusticity and elegance that can be challenging to achieve with Cabernet Franc.

The 2018 Saumur Champigny Clos de l'Échelier opens with a deep, intense and perfectly ripe bouquet of dark fruits (mainly black berries), a hint of plums, black pepper and more crushed spices as well as underwood. Smooth, elegant and refined on the velvety-textured palate, this is a full-bodied, fresh and stringent Cabernet Franc with remarkable concentration but also finesse. The finish is intense and firmly structured with massive but ripe tannins that are well integrated and not dry at all. This is an impressive Cabernet from Saumur-Champigny that is made for the long distance. Ripe pear and even fine pear brandy flavors on the aftertaste. Tasted in June 2021.