Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur Blanc L'Insolite 2023
Domaine des Roches Neuves
Thierry Germain's L'Insolite is biodynamic Chenin Blanc at its most unadorned — the name translates to 'the unusual,' and this wine lives up to it. No new oak, no malolactic fermentation, just pure varietal expression shaped by ancient tuffeau limestone. The rough mineral edge here is precisely what makes it compelling. A benchmark Loire white.
Nose
Bracing white pear and green apple meet a pronounced chalky minerality. Citrus peel and a hint of fresh herbs — thyme and white flowers — add complexity without competing.
Palate
Taut and precise, with razor-sharp acidity carrying flavors of green apple, lemon zest, and wet stone. There's a textural grip from the tuffeau limestone soils that gives the wine unexpected weight. A subtle honeyed richness emerges with warmth.
Finish
Long and mineral-driven, with persistent citrus and a faintly saline quality. The acidity lingers, keeping the palate clean and demanding another sip.
- Varietal
- Chenin Blanc
- Blend
- 100% Chenin Blanc
- Vineyards
- L'Insolite vineyard, old vines on tuffeau limestone, biodynamically farmed
- Alcohol
- 12.5%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
- Skin Contact
- No
Food Pairing
Fresh goat cheese with toasted walnuts and frisée
Crafted by Thierry Germain at his biodynamic estate in Varrains overlooking the Loire River, where Chenin Blanc vines plunge their roots into the distinctive tuffeau limestone caves of Saumur.
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