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Bibendum Wine Co.
Bibendum Wine Co.
Bibendum Wine Co.

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Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny La Marginale 2018

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Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny La Marginale 2018
Producer Roches Neuves
Region, Country Saumur, France
Bottle Size 750ml
Product Code 18504-750

Biodynamic. Marginale is Germain’s old-vine blend, drawn from parcels on the limestone soils of Fossés de Chaintre (in the lieux-dits of les Dares and Clos Maurice) and from a small parcel of old vines on Turonian limestone in the famous Les Poyeux. Made from the Estate’s oldest (apart from Les Mémoires) and lowest-yielding Cabernet Franc vines, perhaps more than any other red, Marginale encapsulates the Germain style (profound elegance and soaring intensity) that defines the wines of this Estate today. The 2018 vintage might be my favourite-ever for the reds of Saumur (at this early stage anyway). The wines have all the vibrancy, purity and freshness that we expect of this unique place, but there is matching flesh, opulence and seduction. 


La Marginale was raised in a large 25-hectolitre foudre (that had to be erected in the Roches Neuves cellars by Franz Stockinger himself) for 12 months before finishing in three-year-old Burgundian barrels. Since 2013, Germain has employed a shorter maceration. 




Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny La Marginale 2018

Reviews

“It kicks off with a fabulous nose, pure and focused, with scented black cherry fruits, and perfumed with bright violets. The palate feels darker and more brooding than Terres Chaudes, but it still has the silky texture which seems on this tasting to run right through the range. But here there is also an undercurrent of rich, dark and grippy tannins, wrapped in threads of black bean and dark chocolate in the middle of the palate. Yet that silky purity persists throughout. Beautiful, but with superb potential for drinking in four to eight years.” 93-95 points
Chris Kissack, The Wine Doctor
“Seamless, balanced and ageworthy. Aged 12 months in 25-hectoliter barrel. Nose full of roses and violets. Silky and cool in the mouth, with fresh plum and black cherry. Finishes full of graphite and crushed stone and a lingering licorice note. Needs a couple years, but this will be exceptional.”
94 points, Jason Wilson, Vinous
"The 2018 Saumur Champigny La Marginale is from a very warm and early-ripening, south-facing Cabernet Franc vineyard that yields about 35 hectoliters per hectare. The nose of the 2018 is deep, concentrated and aromatic and combines ripe black fruit aromas with spicy and toasty as well as floral tones. Aged in large oak and then 12 months in barriques, this is a juicy, intense and elegant red with remarkably fine and elegant tannins and a palatable mineral energy. This is an extraordinarily good and coolish-styled 2018 Cabernet Franc from Saumur Champigny, but the wine also seems to include the Bordelais blood and spirit of Bordeaux-native Thierry Germain. Tasted in June 2021."
92 points, Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate

Reviews

“It kicks off with a fabulous nose, pure and focused, with scented black cherry fruits, and perfumed with bright violets. The palate feels darker and more brooding than Terres Chaudes, but it still has the silky texture which seems on this tasting to run right through the range. But here there is also an undercurrent of rich, dark and grippy tannins, wrapped in threads of black bean and dark chocolate in the middle of the palate. Yet that silky purity persists throughout. Beautiful, but with superb potential for drinking in four to eight years.” 93-95 points
Chris Kissack, The Wine Doctor
“Seamless, balanced and ageworthy. Aged 12 months in 25-hectoliter barrel. Nose full of roses and violets. Silky and cool in the mouth, with fresh plum and black cherry. Finishes full of graphite and crushed stone and a lingering licorice note. Needs a couple years, but this will be exceptional.”
94 points, Jason Wilson, Vinous
"The 2018 Saumur Champigny La Marginale is from a very warm and early-ripening, south-facing Cabernet Franc vineyard that yields about 35 hectoliters per hectare. The nose of the 2018 is deep, concentrated and aromatic and combines ripe black fruit aromas with spicy and toasty as well as floral tones. Aged in large oak and then 12 months in barriques, this is a juicy, intense and elegant red with remarkably fine and elegant tannins and a palatable mineral energy. This is an extraordinarily good and coolish-styled 2018 Cabernet Franc from Saumur Champigny, but the wine also seems to include the Bordelais blood and spirit of Bordeaux-native Thierry Germain. Tasted in June 2021."
92 points, Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate

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