My allocation of the first wine is 10% of Thierry Germain's production (only 533 bottles); even 3 Michelin Star Chefs have strict allocations. This is as cult as it gets in France and I am very lucky to be able to offer the 2011 Domaine des Roches Neuves (Thierry German) "Clos de Romans" Saumur-Champigny Blanc for $64.99 a 3 pack. This is arguably of one the highest quality dry Chenin Blancs in all of France, if not the world. It is a massively concentrated yet so fine, filigreed and elegant with a stunningly scented nose. The acidity is fantastic and lets the almond, pear and mineral tones linger for a very long time. This is a dry Chenin with the persistence of Grand Cru Cote de Beaune. Thierry Germain believes the 11th century walled vineyard it comes from is one of the most special sites in the world. Think Corton-Charlemagne meets Saumur Blanc.
It is too small for his normal American importer so you are the lucky recipient of this vinous gift. In France, many think this is a better wine than the Clos Rougeard "Breze." For me it is just as good, if not better, but made in a different style. This wine is impossible to obtain. So what are you getting here? A 100% selection massale from an 11th century walled parcel. The wine is aged in 400 liter oval casks with 9 months of aging on the lees. If Breze is more influenced by wood, this is just pure, explosive Chenin Blanc with limitless complexity. It needs an hour or two to get going but once it does, you are in for a thrill ride. The wine is insane, and for my palate, I would/will drink this over Clos Rougeard Breze. It is finer in my opinion and more polished but perfectly expresses its terroir with no wood influence.It is incredible wine and the lucky few who get some of my allocation should treasure this bottle. 2010 was the first vintage and I think 2011 is better, but it's only by a nose. This is very limited and will be allocated.
I also have a very limited amount of the 2011 Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny "Franc de Pied" for $49.99 on the 3-pack. These are original French rootstock and not grafted onto American rootstock. This is very very rare and Franc de Pied (the term in French) wines have a texture that is unlike anything in the world of wine. Creamy is the word that comes up most yet with uncanny precision. It is quite a juxtaposition. The texture of these ungrafted vines is something to behold. I have read and heard about all the bottles of pre-phyloxxera Bordeaux from last century and get green with envy and then realize I could never afford the stuff anyway and if I could it probably would be fake. Ha! But for $49.99 you can have a taste of history and what wine with extreme textural precision that gives you a hint of what wine used to taste like. I also find that wines made from ungrafted wines have an aromatic sparkle that is unique to them. This is one of the greatest Franc de Pied wines I have ever had as the combination of purity, freshness, precision, depth and refinement are extremely rare for the somewhat wild and untamed Cabernet Franc grape. This is, and I hate to use the word, but it really applies here, Burgundian to the max. It is so elegant, ripe, pure and just plain thrilling wine.
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